June 1, 1927.
Dear Jane Addams,
I have been wanting to write to you for a week or more but last week we had an officers' meeting for five days and then I had to write a new "Pax" in four days and so I just did not have a minute. However, I know Madame Ramondt has written you and given you the news. I think our interview with Mr. [Tibbetts] was very satisfactory. I found that it was useful that I happened to be a lawyer and could see quite plainly what he was aiming at. He was very nice but of course he was representing his clients and they would very much like not to give us that $27,000.
I am sure Mr. [Tibbetts] came here with an idea that he would be able to prove that Madame Ramondt was not a real treasurer but I am equally sure of the fact that he went away thoroughly convinced that not only was she the treasurer but a very good treasurer. He seemed very much impressed with our whole outfit, the work of the office, the books, and everything we were doing. As we had nothing to conceal we showed him everything, minutes, correspondence, etc., and furnished him with all our Congress Reports.
The reason I feel sure that he was convinced about Madame Ramondt's position is that his talk when he first came was over the fact that it might be difficult to show that Madame Ramondt as financial secretary was really treasurer. When he went away at the end of the day he said he did not think there was any question about that but he wondered whether the court would be willing to pay so much money into the hands of a foreigner over whom the court would have no jurisdiction. I think this is an important point and perhaps you could go into it with [your] attorneys in the U.S. It might be possible to administer the fund if it came to us in some way that would be satisfactory to the court. For instance if we bought the Maison I should think that might be a definite act which the court would sanction even if it were unwilling to pay money to a foreigner over whom it had no jurisdiction. [page 2]
I am hoping the case will go through without any difficulty because after all as I see it the heirs will get a great big sum by the compromise arrangement proposed and they are anxious to get that money and settle up the estate. Our great strength lies in the fact that if they don't compromise and take the matter into court the League stands to clear something like $86,000 instead of $27,000. If there should be litigation I think probably with my knowledge of the law and of League affairs, I could be of considerable assistance when I return in the fall.
Now about the Chinese situation and our mission to China. I think the Executive were only partially satisfied with the Americans' decision to send Mrs. Grover Clark as their ↑U.S.↓ representative. I think they feel very strongly that whoever goes should return to their country afterwards to make propaganda for the cause in China and I suppose Mrs. Grover Clark could not do this. Also the Europeans as you know, seem to think America has an endless amount of money and I fear they will not think America has done its full share if you do not have to pay Mrs. Clark's expenses to China and do not contribute to the expenses of Camille Drevet. It is of course going to be very difficult to raise money for Camille Drevet's expenses particularly if the British send a delegate and feel that all they can do is to raise money for their representative. I might do more if I were given a free hand but these European Sections are very touchy about having me make appeals in their provinces. Oh, well, they ↑they will↓ have got to [illegible] ↑see↓ it [illegible] ↑through some how↓, I am quite willing to do anything I can to raise money if they will give me a free hand. As to the project itself, from all we can hear from the Chinese, representing groups of both North and South, it would be a most welcome expedition on our part. The Chinese here connected with the League of Nations assured us that our women could be sent through from one end of the country to the other without danger or difficulty if they will trust themselves to the Chinese. They will not need to get permission from their own Governments but can meet in Japan and the Chinese will arrange the rest.
It does look as though the W.I.L. might perform the same mission in China that the British women performed when they sent their delegation to Ireland during the troubles with England and the "black and tan" atrocities.
You ask about Madame Drevet's plans. They are in abeyance until we can assure her that we have the money for her trip. She has made all her arrangements, however, to leave France at any time and we talk now of getting the expedition off in September. Louie Bennett, who is Chairman of the China Commission was here with us for nearly the whole of May attending the Economic Conference and we have been discussing ways and means of raising money over here for Madame Drevet's trip. The Economic Conference, by the way, was a most interesting affair and we had two of the three [page 3] women delegates to the conference staying in the house. You will see the full account of all the festivities in the June "Pax." Louie Bennett, like everyone else who comes here, loved the Maison. At the end of her visit Madame Duchêne and Madame Ramondt came for the officers' meetings. The minutes for these I will get out the first second I have. I am enclosing a little statement of what the officers have proposed in regard to the "Pax." I feel pretty sure that the vote will be to have me continue an international paper, but as you will see with many restrictions attached. However, I am learning patience and perhaps it can be worked out. I have had so many nice letters about "Pax" recently that it has given me fresh courage to ↑try to↓ continue with the work.
There is one more matter about which I must write you, which I feel is very important and that is in regard to Professor Earle's coming to lecture for the Summer School. I had a cable from Dorothy Detzer saying that U.S. Section could not help me with his ocean passage and that they would find someone who is [traveling] in Europe to lecture for us at the Summer School. I am sure you will recognize at once that this will not do. Madame Duchêne and the French Section are running the school and of course they have complete say-so as to who shall lecture there. They accepted Professor Earle because of the statements I could make about him and though I knew that I would have to raise $300 or $350 for his passage I took upon myself this task because I felt it was so important and urgent. I think you know without my saying so that the French Section is very extreme in its point of view and that they are going to go very far in this subject of imperialism. Madame Duchêne has met Roger and would be very glad to have him help at the Summer School but in spite of my affection for Roger I do not feel that he alone should represent America. The reason is this: Roger, as you perhaps realize, really believes in class struggle that [written in left margin] ↑that the root of the whole trouble is the capitalist system↓. Now I feel that if we are to do an effective piece of propaganda here in Geneva in connection with the League of Nations we need a man who sees straight on imperialism and is really a radical along that line but who at the same time is not attacking the capitalist system. This is why I feel Professor Earle with his academic standing at Columbia University is the person we need. I am sure that Professors Challaye, Rappard and Earle would work out together far-reaching resolutions that would be extremely helpful and useful not only to the W.I.L. but to the League of Nations. We are meeting two situations here, the needs of our own Summer School and at the same time trying to make propaganda in connection with the League of Nations. Madame Duchêne is securing natives from the colonial countries to speak. These people will be extreme in their point of view so what we need in our experts are men who are both radical ↑but↓ and tolerant. It will not do to send over someone who is [traveling] here who has an academic standing but who is only moderate in his attitude toward imperialism. Madame Duchêne [page 4] will not want him and it will create a bad situation I am sure. Now I am perfectly sure that she will be satisfied with Professor Earle and he, as you know, is tolerant and sane and does not touch on the struggle between classes. He has agreed to come if we can pay his passage on a one class boat. We only have to raise the money for his ocean passage. It is difficult for me to do this from here particularly if you vote it down in your national board meeting, but I hope after writing my explanation you will feel that he is the right person to come. ↑Of course if Emily Balch could come over that would make a great difference.↓
This is a long letter and I must close. The garden and house are looking lovely and we have been having some gorgeous weather. Much love to you,
Ever devotedly,
Madeleine Z. Doty [signed]
↑Many thanks for our May allowance which we received several days ago.↓
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