The Congress was attended by over 600 delegates from 54 countries—an Increase of 18 on the number of countries represented at the first Conference at Geneva In 1936.

The now delegations came from the countries of South and Central America, the Near and the Far East. Official delegations were sent from China, Spain, and Czechoslovakia.

Britain sent delegates and observers from six Christian organisations, five political youth movements, four social organisations, and the major youth and student movements.

The South American delegates, alarmed at the extent of Nazi penetration into their countries, declared themselves in favour of collective action to prevent aggression. They welcomed the "good neighbour" policy of President Roosevelt and the prospect of Pan-American co-operation.

The Colonies.

Representatives of the colonial countries, speaking for the first time at a World Youth Congress, stated the needs of their people, and the contribution they could make to international organisation and social justice.

Collective security must be made a better investment than subservience to a single Great Power, said the delegates of the smaller European States. If only the Western Democracies would do this, the peoples of the small countries would feel more willing to force their governments to join a peace bloc.

Future Tasks.

Student and Society.

In addition, recommendations to remedy the main problems of youth in education, vocational training, industry unemployment, health, and leisure were made, based on the proposals of the International Labour Office. Special attention was paid to the condition of agrarian youth.

The Congress decided to set up a special committee to assist the literacy campaign in India and colonial countries.

A special investigation is to be made into the needs of young agricultural workers to assist the Agrarian Youth Conference which the Polish Peasant and Youth Movement is calling at Warsaw in 1939.

Of Primary Import.

But the big climax to the long week of discussions was the signing of the Peace Pact. This Peace Pact (the text of which is printed below) was signed by the 53 national delegations, declaring the conviction of the representatives of 40 million young people that the collective system of upholding law can be rebuilt and immediately operated against aggressors.

On the platform were the flags of the countries, and all the youth pledged themselves to a determined campaign for collective resistance to aggression, help to the people in countries already torn by war and long term social development in order to prevent future wars. The pledge was read aloud in English, Spanish and French, and demonstrated the unity of the World Youth Congress Movement in spite of all differences of language and national environment.

The Congress declared support for the successful methods brought into being by the Nyon agreement, for the extension of regional pacts within the framework of the League (e.g., the Franco-Soviet pact) and expressed the conviction that the democratic procedure within and between nations was a great safeguard to peace.

The peace discussions brought together representatives of many religions and schools of political and philosophical thought. They declared that the World Youth Congress Movement was a basis of co-operation for the whole youth.