British Committee of the International Women's Congress
23rd September, 1915.
Dear Miss Addams,
Since I wrote to you about ten days ago, the British Committee has been considering its constitution and in connection with that the constitution of the International Committee and the relation of our [organization] to it.
Our Committee wishes to remind the officers of the International Committee that according to the resolutions passed at The Hague Congress, a meeting of the International Committee should have been called to hear the report of the envoys before taking further action. We understand that further action has been taken without calling the International Committee, although we are in some doubt as to exactly what the nature of this action is, and we would urge that a meeting of the International Committee be summoned as soon as possible.
Another point which the British Committee considered was the appointment of officers of the International Committee. There appears to be no constitutional method of doing this, and we urge that the Committee consider the question, adopt a constitutional method and appoint officers in accordance with it. You will remember that the British Committee advised [in] June that the officers should not be members of a belligerent country. We are still of that opinion and regret that several of the officers who have been appointed are members of a belligerent country.
The Committee recognizes of course that it is always difficult to secure a meeting of an International Committee and that during a European War the difficulty may become insuperable. At the same time it is clear that action taken on behalf of the Committee may have far-reaching effects in the various countries concerned and more especially in the belligerent countries. We would urge therefore that political action be taken by the responsible officers only after a meeting of the International Committee, of which due notice has been given and to which every country has sent a representative, or has had an opportunity of expressing its views on the subjects to be discussed. [page 2]
We have already sent a cable on this subject to Hull House, but as cables seem very much delayed and often do not arrive at all, you may possibly not have received it. We are also sending a copy of this letter addressed to the Secretary in Holland.
My letter of the 11th September will have given you a fuller account of our views on the subject. I wrote as an individual but the Committee endorses my views.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
K. D. Courtney [signed]
Comments