April 26th, 1927
Re: ESTATE OF AMANDA F. LAUTERBACH.
Dear Madam:
Miss Emily Greene Balch, a member of the Executive Committee of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, called at our office last week and we had a very satisfactory interview. Miss Balch is well acquainted with the purposes of the League and its offices, and gave us a description of the organization of which you are President. We have been assured that this League is unincorporated and that Madame Ramondt-Hirschmann succeeded Miss Balch in her office of Secretary and Treasurer, although Madame Hirschmann's title conferred by the Executive Committee is Recording and Financial Secretary. Miss Balch informed us that Madame Hirschmann functions as Treasurer of the international body and has the custody of its funds; that she is either appointed or elected by the Executive Committee, and that this Committee takes and keeps the minutes of its meetings. Miss Balch believes that Madame Hirschmann is the custodian of these minutes. In order to participate in the distribution of this estate, it will have to be established by affidavit that the League is unincorporated; that no corporation has control of its affairs, and that Madame Hirschmann functions and performs the duties of Treasurer under the title of Financial Secretary.
At a later date we will require from your affidavits as to Madame Hirschmann's duties and authority to appear as attorneys representing the League in this estate. Furthermore, we will require certified copies of the minutes of the meetings of the Executive Committee appointing or electing Madame Ramondt-Hirschmann Recording and Financial Secretary. We shall require such minutes to establish Madame Hirschmann's incumbency on May 7th, 1926 and thereafter to date. Miss Balch is under the impression [page 2] that Madame Hirschmann is the custodian of the original minutes of the Meetings of the Executive Committee. Miss Balch does not believe that these are kept by Miss Doty at Geneva. Are we correct in this assumption?
We have had conferences with one of the Executors and with the attorneys for the three daughters of Mrs. Lauterbach who have contested her will. The contestants have proposed a settlement, which is quite involved and complicated, although we believe it to be for the best interests of the League to accept the proposed settlement. We have explained the terms of settlement to Miss Balch, and shall be glad to write you on this subject, if you desire us to do so. However, it would be most difficult to attempt to explain the terms of this settlement by correspondence to Madame Hirschmann. One of the attorneys for the contestants has suddenly been called to Paris on other business, and he has very kindly offered to be of any service that is possible. On his way from Paris to London, he is willing to stop off in Amsterdam, and interview Madame Hirschmann, and explain to her the terms of the settlement. It seems to us that this would be a considerable advantage to have this gentleman, Mr. Tibbetts, interview Madame Hirschmann, examine the minutes of the meetings of the Executive Committee, and to explain the terms of this settlement. A settlement must be approved by the Surrogate, and we believe that the chances of its approval would be enhanced if Mr. Tibbetts is in a position to state to the Surrogate that he had personally interviewed Madame Hirschmann. Mr. Tibbetts desires no compensation for this service, but would expect to be paid his actual traveling expenses out of the funds coming to the League.
Mr. Tibbetts sails on Saturday, April 30th, and we are, accordingly, sending this letter and its enclosure by Air Mail, requesting you to sign the enclosed letter to Madame Hirschmann, and return the same to us by Air Mail, so that we may, in turn, forward it to Amsterdam.
The enclosed letter to Madame Hirschmann is a proposed copy of a letter which we would like you to send her, but it can be changed as desired by you. We drafted this letter to help you to write her, as we are anxious to have a letter reach Madame Hirschmann before Mr. Tibbetts arrives in Paris. We are also writing Madame Hirschmann, enclosing papers for her signature.
1 Enc.
Alexander & Keenan [signed]
P.S. Mr. Tibbetts is also a temporary administrator of this estate.
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