EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER TO MADAME [DUCHÊNE]
June 5, 1927.
You will probably get a copy of Miss Courtney's notes on the conversation I had with the British Committee, (May 28th), within the next few days.
At my wish, we began the discussion on the point of what could now be done in regard to China, rather than with what had been done about the Letter (to Chinese women). I had already fully discussed that with Miss Courtney, Dr. Clark and Miss Pye, and felt I could if necessary leave it with them to settle. It took us two hours to discuss the points you will find in Miss Courtney's statement.
I came to two conclusions, -- the Committee regret their action in regard to the Letter. And they are not particularly keen on this mission to China at the present moment. They are convinced they cannot get passports, and they would think it foolish to do as Madeleine Doty suggested, [typed up right margin] ↑that the Chinese should secure the needed visas for China and the delegates only get passports to Japan.↓ -- There is too much risk of failure in that, and I must say I agree. They want to postpone action until the autumn at any rate.
They were all perfectly agreed that any delegate they nominate should be sanctioned by the International Executive. They agreed too that the British Delegate should be the Delegate of the International Executive. They made a strong point of delaying the delegation until we heard from some group of Chinese women prepared to receive us. And in this I think they are wise. But I am not in agreement with them that the object of the delegation needs more specific definition. But if they think so, let them define the object themselves and hand it on to us to consider.
They have agreed to raise funds for an International Delegation, -- which means that all the money they raise goes into a common ↑International↓ fund. That seems to me a big step forward. And I cannot quarrel with their stipulation that if it is not possible to finance two delegates, the plan will be abandoned. I quite agree that it would be altogether inadvisable to send a delegation which did not include an English woman, in view of the very strong feeling against the British in China.
They agreed with us that it is unfortunate that the Americans have chosen a delegate who ↑already↓ has affiliations in China. But they suggest that she might be very useful in approaching individual women or groups of women to secure from them an assurance of welcome to the delegation. Mrs. Swanwick reminds me that it would have been impossible for them to do anything in Ireland during our Revolution, if they had not been given a send off by the Irish Section. [page 2]
I hope you will agree with me that we ought to accept the proposals made in Miss Courtney's statement, -- and to accept them in a friendly spirit, hoping that we have now arrived at a complete understanding on this subject and can now cooperate in the enterprise with enthusiasm. I feel that we might make this China mission a big and important movement for Peace if we put some real hard thinking and hard work into it.
I ought to explain that the British Committee had another cause for complaint in addition to the change in the resolution. They were not informed that the Liège Committee gave instructions that they (the British Committee) were to appoint one of their members to act with the [subcommittee] on China. I had told Miss Chick of this but not officially, and she did not report it to the Committee. It was not mentioned in the [summarized] version of the Minutes which was sent to them. I fear I am most to blame on this point. You can see that the oversight gave the impression that we were leaving the British outside our China plans.
Also I do think we were wrong to change the Resolution without consultation with the Section most concerned. After all an International League can hardly continue to exist unless its members show extreme consideration for the sensibilities of each group.
LOUIE BENNETT.
The British Committee meet on June 14th and will consider the whole affair officially.
Comments