13th December, 1924.
Dear Miss Addams,
We had received a cable from Vilma Glücklich the day before yours came and were feeling rather surprised at her having sent this cable without consulting the British National Section. She did not mention that she had used your name in signing it, and in any case we did not see there was anything we could do. The wording did seem to us extremely unfortunate and likely to do far more harm than good.
On receipt of your cable Mrs. Swanwick, Miss Courtney, Miss Chick and I considered carefully what to do. Miss Courtney unfortunately was just beginning an attack of influenza and did not feel she could take the responsibility for the decision, but left it to us to send a cable to you in her name. We felt that it would only draw attention to an unfortunate expression, which might otherwise pass [unnoticed], if we were to bring the matter up to the Foreign Office here.
Vilma Glücklich, in her cable to us, said that she had cabled Chamberlain in Rome where, of course, he now is, and we hope very much that he is too busy to pay much attention to it. In any case it will damage our Section less if you make any statement you feel worth while to Chamberlain instead of having it come through us. I have, therefore, sent the following cable: --
Addams, Hull House, Chicago.
"As Glücklich wired Rome and we have made our protest here believe better we don't draw attention here to Glücklich's unfortunate wording. Courtney." [page 2]
I am very sorry indeed not to do exactly as you ask us in the matter, but I believe that you would wish us to do what we think best for the position of our Section here. We also think that perhaps you did not [realize] that Chamberlain was in Rome at the moment, as Glücklich did not put ↑it↓ in her cable to you, and if you had known this you would also have thought that, in your own interest, it was better not to draw attention to the matter at the Foreign Office here.
I imagine we are right in assuming that you also object to the wording "merciless enforcement British Reprisals." We do not think this at all meets the case.
We feel very strongly, as I am sure you will [realize], what a terrible mistake the Government has made in not taking this opportunity of referring the matter to the League; but we do not think that ↑there is↓ sufficient ground for supposing that the terms of the British Note would, in themselves, justify the expression "merciless reprisals." I think there is good reason to hope that the British would not use the control they wish to have of the Nile Water to the detriment of Egypt, and it is a mistake to [antagonize] people by assuming that this is not the case.
I enclose a copy of the Memorandum that we sent to the Government on November 26th, a copy of which will have been sent to your National Secretary, and also a copy of a memorandum which has just been issued to our Branches suggesting what lines we should take in following up the protest to the Government now that the nominal Government of Egypt has accepted the British terms.
With very kind regards and hoping that you will think we have done right,
Yours sincerely,
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