NEUTRAL CONFERENCE FOR CONTINUOUS MEDIATION
My dear Miss Addams:
I cannot tell you how sorry I am to learn from Mrs. Holt that there is still no possibility of your joining us in the near future. We miss you far more that you can possibly imagine. It is no small job to try to stop the world-war and we need all the wisdom and constructive statesmanship in the world. No one do I miss more than you.
Would it not be possible for you to address a short letter to the Conference expressing your hope as to what we shall be able to accomplish and your faith in the unofficial effort? I mean a letter that I might give to the press. A man like Romain Rolland for instance, with whom I had a long talk in Switzerland, and who had at that time expressed his faith in our work, now writes me: "Why do we not hear the voice of Jane Addams?" I am sure the press would like such a letter and that it would have a tremendous effect; besides, and we would reprint it in our Weekly Summary.
To me the inspiring thing all through has been how a little effort of good will is bound to bear much fruit. When you consider the enormous sums spent on military venture, it is surprising to think how our comparatively small budget of $15,000. -- per month (this is, of course, for your private information only), can work such wonders. How we wish Mr. Ford were here to see what he has started, which in turn would mean, we believe, that the budget would be increased several fold. With double the sum we could not only do double the work, but our efficiency advances [page 2] progressively with every sum spent.
I should have come back to America for a short trip long ago, except that somehow the Conference and the Business Administration cannot make up their minds that it is wise for me to leave here even for a short time, but I feel confident that if Miss Balch goes, she will be the very best person to send. Someone must go and give all of our friends an exact picture of what is going on here.
Give my kind regards to Mrs. Thomas and all other Chicago friends,
Very sincerely yours,
Louis P. Lochner [signed]
Comments