My first reaction on the cable from M. Z. D. is
I hate to have us here uncooperative when the Int. Ex. Com. makes a proposal particularly if they are enough in earnest to go after European funds for it,
on the other hand I do not "visualize" what these women would do in China, and in general I think such a plan is likely to be useful if and in proportion as there is a personality filled with a sense of conviction and power and eager to undertake the thing -- and also endowed with requisite qualities of judgment etc. I think it quite possible they have a Frenchwoman who is on fire to go (Madame Capy or somebody else). Whom could we suggest? Personally I should like to have Mrs. Catt go if she felt moved to and if she did I suppose that she might be able to command the money. But I don't know how she would cooperate with the unnamed French woman and I do not suppose she would want to represent the W.I.L. if we wanted to have her. This however is not important. We are not out for credit for our own achievement. For myself I would think it more important to send women to Honolulu next summer then to China now but the one does not preclude the other.
One wonders where these women would join one another (if they are to do so) and on what program they would act, instructions what if any, how much discretion and how long their mission is expected to be.
I suppose we shall soon have letters from Geneva answering some of these queries.
Emily G. Balch
I am sending this to Miss Addams, Mrs. Richards and Miss Detzer.
Cable referred to reads
EXECUTIVE EARNESTLY WISHES SEND TWO WOMEN CHINA CONFER WITH CHINESE WOMEN HOW BEST HELP CAUSE OF PEACE. SUGGEST EUROPE RAISE FUND SEND FRENCH WOMAN CAN AMERICA RAISE FUND SEND AMERICAN SUGGEST BALCH REPLY DOTY GENEVA.
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