↑Feb 13/22↓
x x x Mrs. Lewis has asked me to write you the result of the meeting of the Committee on Speakers x x x
It was agreed by all three of us that it was most important to bring [over] a woman from France or Belgium even if she spoke only French. The speakers we selected were in this order, first Mademoiselle Mélin, second Mlle. Dejardin (Belgium) third Madame Duchêne.
It was then voted not to ask either Frau [Augspurg] or Lida Heymann but to invite [Gertrud] Baer as the German representative of the W.I.L. We understood beforehand that Miss Doty would have to resign from the Committee if this resolution went through. Both Mrs. Lewis and I are unalterably opposed to inviting either Frau [Augspurg] or Frau Heymann and could not serve on the Committee to raise money if this were done, and Miss Doty felt the same way about [Gertrud] Baer.
We are all of the opinion that the French and German speaker should be engaged through Miss Emily Balch and that you should cable Miss Balch at once from Washington, as the time is so short, and ask her to secure them at once. Mrs. Lewis and I want [Gertrud] Baer because we know she will be more pleasing to the American public, and because she represents young people on the International Board of the W.I.L. The latter reason can be used as the principle reason for asking her as that will not be offensive to the older women. We consider it very important to start a movement in the colleges and universities here and she is the best person to do it.
Miss Sophia Dulles who was in Germany last year, knows the feeling in Germany and knows all these women well, thinks about [it] just as we do. She was present this morning for a little while to give us her advice and to report on the money raising that she has been doing. She reports that there will be no difficulty in raising $1,000.00 in Philadelphia alone. She has already pledges of over $400.00 -- $100.00 of which has been promised on condition that [Gertrud] Baer comes to this country as the German representative. Miss Dulles feels as we do that it would be a severe blow to the movement to give up the idea of speakers and to return the money to those who have offered it.
We hope that you will feel able to cable at once as the season is already so advanced.
Yours very truly,
P.S. Miss Doty will present a minority report.
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