July 31, 1926.
Dear Jane Addams,
I have your postcard with the enclosures. The meeting referred to is one in connection with the Summer School. One of your lectures, instead of being delivered at the Summer School, is to be delivered at Geneva so that the general public may have a chance of hearing you.
I have suggested to Miss Thomas that we get Mr. Rappard to be your chairman and to translate for you. I have just come from the University where I have been having a long talk with Mr. Rappard and he will be very glad to act as chairman on this occasion. He has suggested that as we are holding this meeting in Geneva on the 30th of August, very near the time of the opening of the next Assembly of the League of Nations, that we use the occasion for a little propaganda. He thought it would be very helpful if you would speak on "The Next Steps Towards World Peace." If you did this, much of what you said in Dublin, you could repeat here about the need of new methods of procedure.
Mr. Rappard also thought it would be nice if we could have some woman who spoke French. I, myself, am not sufficiently expert in French speaking to be willing to undertake it, but what would you think of twenty minutes speech by Mademoiselle Dejardin and Gertrud Baer getting them to protest, as representatives of the French and German people, against the Great War and the need of all nations coming together and demanding that Germany, Russia and America be brought into the League of Nations if it is to work successfully. Then you could follow, emphasizing, as I have already pointed out, the need of new methods of procedure if we are really to do away with war. I think such a meeting as this would really be helpful propaganda to the League and to the work that people are trying to do here. Mr. Rappard felt so, too. [page 2]
Also, how would you like to have me try to get Romain Rolland to say a few words for us? He does not speak ordinarily but he might consent to occupy five minutes with words of greeting and endorsement of our work.
Of course, instead of having Dejardin and Baer, we might have one of the well known men staying here in Geneva or you might be enough on the program without having anyone else.
Mr. Pethick-Lawrence, M.P., will be in Geneva at this time but not Mrs. He, however, might be persuaded to speak for us if you thought well of it.
Temporarily we will put you down as speaking on the "Next Steps Towards World Peace" with Mr. Rappard as your chairman and translator and you can let me know how you feel about having others on the program.
I am so glad you are enjoying your stay. We, of course, are looking forward eagerly to welcoming you here. I have had many, many thoughts since I have got back from the Dublin Congress which I should like to share with you. This is a hard job and one literally has to pick one's way from day to day.
With much love to you,
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