Dear Miss Addams,
I hope you don’t object to my pencil letters. I write more legibly with a pencil and it is easier to make a carbon copy.
I think I have already acknowledged your 2 letters of Sept 20, at any rate I have written to you since but there ↑are↓ a number of points to be answered.
First as to the Nansen checks: a formal receipt together with a letter about the whole Nansen [organization] business with enclosed copies of letter other related letters and documents will shortly reach you from the Geneva office where I am sending them to be copied.
I hope that The Hague Conference will commend itself more to you after you have seen Amy Woods & had letters from me and, I hope, others about the plan. I hope the Eng. & Fr. text of the Call has already reached you. Miss Marshall was second choice for president. She is very regretful that you cannot come (as all will be) but I think she will preside well (if only her health holds out). I do not know who should act if she could not as I suppose it would be tactless to have L. G. H. as a representing a nation [favored] by the proposed revision.
I do not really think that there is anything in your fear that the choice of The Hague to meet in implies any preference for "Hague plans" or any "parti pris" of any kind. [page 2]
I note what you say about hoping there will be a meeting of our Congress next summer in spite of having the Conference in Dec. and the Committee, [illegible] at its Dec. meeting, will certainly take this into serious consideration but it is my guess that they will think it too much expense and labor for us to swing, to have two big international reunions in six months, especially as we are going ahead with plans for a summer school if possible in [Czechoslovakia]. Before the Dec. meeting Miss Marshall will have met with Mrs Catt etc. in London & that situation will be clearer.
You say it is hard to raise funds without the enthusiasm of a convention. Of course we hope that The Hague convention with its greater realism will create more enthusiasm than one of our regular Congresses.
Are there not a good many Americans abroad this winter, some and others who might be induced to come, who would act as delegates? I think, for instance, of Anne Withington who is coming over to Germany and Carolena Woods who I think might be induced to come if she is not already meaning to do so. And I think the occasion will lend itself to some serious journalism.
Miss Daugaard was at the Freiberg meeting & was quite in harmony I think with everything. She proves to be more to the left in economic questions than I should have supposed. I appeared to be the one hide-bound conservative. I made objections and was afraid of every new proposal. I hated to have us commit the League to anything new in your absence, for one thing, and [page 3] for another as no one else seemed inclined to play advocatus diaboli and try to get the cons considered as well as the pros I had to do so. I think people were a good deal disgusted with their cautious and bureaucratic secretary.
Miss Daugaard since her return to Denmark reports that although no definite vote was taken by their board on Oct 8 it is her opinion that Demark cannot take the next Congress. but She thinks they will contribute 1000 crowns to The Hague conference (anything left over to go to support of the Headquarters work). She says "It is a disappointment that J. A. does not come that will keep many home from this country."
I am very happy that the English seems so enthusiastic about The Hague meeting [though] I should think that if the English elections come as early as now looks likely this might hinder their work for it. On the other hand the Conference may meet under better auspices with a fresh deal in Gt. Britain suggesting the possibility of new policies and alignments.
I am asking Madame Jouve about a bib. of peace for readers of Romance languages for Miss Landázuri and hope something will come of it.
I enclose [illegible]
Thank you for Dame Rachel Crowdy’s letter. I do hope the U.S. govn’t can be induced to make this appointment. Her Refusal to do would be a small disaster. Are people still as opposed to the existing [page 4] L. of N. as ever? I see no alternative. And thus one improves all the time. I noticed that at Buffalo you did not come out for the existing League so I suppose you feel differently.
Thanks for Dr. Duggan’s letter. We are trying very hard to get an early start this time. What queered things last year was that nothing was decided till after my return. After that things were speeded up to the limit of my capacity to get speed out of European Committees & printers.
I think I wrote you that Madame Duchêne, Mlle Rolland & I conferred and agreed on
a) [Czechoslovakia] as first choice for place & [organization], except of [program], to be in hands of local committee
b) Subject: Social Peace
c) Mrs Ragaz to [organize program] since this report the new events are:
a) Madame Ragaz refuses -– too many irons in the fire;
b) Miss McDowell in [Czechoslovakia] finds good disposition there toward the plan: we may have use of a castle! [page 5]
c) We have sent out a letter to National Sections of which I trust a copy has reached you already but of which I enclose a copy herewith. If it is a duplicate perhaps you will send it to some one who might give us some good suggestions as to speakers and books.
d) And this I find very embarrassing -– Miss Daugaard writes that the Danish Board voted to try to arrange an international school in the summer of 1923 under the auspices of and at the risk of the Danish Section. But we are clearly committed to [Czechoslovakia] & Denmark is too dear, also.
International Courses.
I hope you have received a long letter with enclosures about this. I add herewith I will have a copy made of a letter just received from [Mrs.?] Nitobe about it before I have the letter itself sent on to you.
Mrs. Johnson’s money ($1000)
I will let you know whether or not we have received notice at Geneva from the National Park Bank that they have received this money. I will write Mrs Johnson a little letter for you to send if you think well and will try to get suitable educational matter sent to her. Does she read French?
Many thanks for the clippings.
I am in a lovely place but having all these little unpleasantnesses that come on when one is too tired and begins to rest. But I am resting.
With all love yours E. G. B.
Comments