↑Need [this re?] returned. This was OK'd by Miss J Addams & [new] class when I saw them [illegible]. E G B↓
April 19, 1927.
Dear Madam Ramondt:
I have just been having a conference with Messrs. Alexander & Keenan, of #54 Wall Street, New York City, who are acting in our interests in regard to the will of a Mrs. Amanda F. Lauterbach, leaving money to the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, namely, a direct bequest of $5,000, and a certain proportion of the money made available after certain deaths.
The situation is very complicated, and turns mainly on whether there is an officer who is Treasurer of the League. Messrs. Alexander & Keenan will be writing to you for help to make out our case, and, of course, you will want to do everything that you can to help them.
They will need to have excerpts from the minutes of the Executive Committee, certified before the American Consul, showing your appointment as Financial Secretary, in 1922 -- or whenever you first were appointed, in 1924, if you were reappointed at that time, and, in 1926, likewise.
They also are going to want to know just what your functions are in regard to receiving money, banking it, authorizing payments from the funds (making checks, etc.), and presenting accounts. My impression is that, since 1924, your functions have been more fully and clearly those that are usually called a Treasurer's duties than they were during the first period of your acting as Financial Secretary.
As you know, Miss Addams asked for a cable vote, authorizing incorporation, and authorizing me to act as Treasurer, in connection with this piece of business. Although we have a unanimous vote "yes," except as regards Miss Heymann, who is absent, Miss Bennett, who has not replied, and Miss Marshall, who votes in favor of a trust, it now looks as though it would not be wise to follow this line and give in except to this vote, nevertheless I am glad we have it in reserve, to use in case the situation changes.
It looks as though it would be impossible for us to prove that we have any clear, legal right under the will. There are certain difficulties that I would not go into, even if I fully understood them. What we hope is that, to avoid litigation, and delay, the heirs will agree to a compromise and an [page 2] immediate payment, amounting, it may be, to about $20,000, which, perhaps, would be available after six months or so, and, in this case, we should still have some contingent claims, maturing when other heirs, having a life interest, shall have died.
I better not write more at this time, and always remain,
Most cordially yours,
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