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Jane Addams — Part 4
Page 43
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be convened immediately
This Internatid™™! Congress of Women urged that a confe
the necessity of interna-
after the war. It advocated universal disarmament but realize
tional agreement. :
In order to urge the governments of the world to put an end to bloodshed and to estab-
lish a just and lasting peace, special delegates were appointed to carry the resolutions of the
congress to the rulers of the belligerent and neutral nations of Europe and to the President
of the United States. .
Fourteen countries were visited by these delegates, and forty-three private conferences
were held with high officials. The visits were taken seriously and were welcomed, and valu-
able information was given and acquired. A permanent committee consisting of two women
from each country was organized called “The Woman’s Committee for Permanent Peace,”
and its members were to form committees in their respective countries or to induce existing
organizations to become sections of the International.
The appointment of state chairmen and vigorous work in many states was the next step
for America, and at the first annual mecting held in Washington, January 8 to 10, 1916, two
hundred delegates were present. It was voted that the Woman’s Peace Party should become
the United States Section of the Women’s International Committee for Permanent Peace. ©
From that time all reports showed great activity ; Miss Addams was given $5,000 by the
Carnegie Peace Foundation towards a guarantee fund for the presentation of “The Trojan
Women,” to be given in cities all over the country. Over three thousand letters were sent to
President Wilson urging him to call a conference of neutral nations. Mass meetings were . -.—-+~
held, material was sent out to aid speakers ; 237,530 pamphlets and folders were distributed in
a few months. The enrollment of members at large and group memberships numbered at
this time 677; the world was at war, and only the most courageous came in.
A congressional program was adopted in 1916, including: measures to oppose universal,
compulsory military service; to secure a joint commission to deal with problems arising be-
tween the United States and the Oricnt; to secure the passage of the Federal suffrage
amendment; and to formulate the principle that foreign investments should ge made without
claim to military protection.
December After the United States went into the war a meeting of the Woman's Peace Party was
1917 held in Philadelphia, at the Friends’ Meeting House, December, 1917, and a “Program Dur-
ing War-Time” was adopted. Recommendations were madc to promote the spirit of good-
will; “Let those of opposed opinions be loyal to the highest that they know, and let each un-
derstand that the other may be equally patriotic.” A statement was issued at this time:
“We have avoided all criticism of our government as to the declaration of war and all ac-
tivities that could be considered obstructive in respect to the conduct of the war, and this not
as a matter of prudence but of principle.”
At this Philadelphia meeting, differences of opinions as to policy having developed during
the year, it was resolved that all branches should hold intact their relationship and effort in
working for the “just and righteous settlement of this war on a basis of democratic world
organization for a durable peace,” but that every branch should become strictly autonomous as
to name, management, and publications. The National Board was to be held responsible only
for its own activities and publications.
In 1918 the Massachusetts branch changed its name to “League for Permanent Peace,”
and at its spacious headquarters carried on large activities, with lectures, study classes, pub-
lications, and relief work; the New York branch changed its name to “Woman’s International
Leagne,” and active i ging mass . etings, lecture courses. etc.; SOM
branches continued fo a6 ‘a ‘mo erate amount ot wor B se . wa
soon as the war was over a second International Congress was called at Zurich, Swit-
zerland, in May, 1919. The congress held twelve sessions in Zurich, ending with a banquet
given by the town and four public meetings in large and crowded auditoriums. It was attended
by delegates from Austria, Argentine, Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain,
Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Roumania, Sweden, Switzerland, United States of
merica.
Miss Addams said in her opening address: “We would fain pour into the approaching ses-
sions all that we have learned and hoped through the poignant suffering of the past five years.
While we approach our share in the great task with a full sense of complicity in the common
disaster of the great war, may we not in all humility of spirit still claim that we essay the
task free from any rancorous memories of willful misunderstanding or distrust of so-called
enemics?... The women have been too close to the clarifying spirit of reality to indulge in
any Sentimentality or unconsidered statements.”
The views of the various nationalities attending the congress differed on man oints re-
garding the League of Nations but the congress held that the peaceful progress of the world
can only be assured when the common interests of humanity are recognized in the establish-
ment of a league which shall represent the will of the people; that membership must be open
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