Wien, February 2nd, 1928.
To the International Executive Committee, per [favor] of Miss Sheepshanks, Geneva.
With reference to the letter of 2. 1. 1928 from the British Section of the Women's Int. League, to the abridged protocol of the executive meeting of September 1927, also to the representation of Mrs. Swanwick's speech, our Group wishes to make the following remarks:
1) We hold that a member of the International Executive committee has the right to choose a subject and treat it according to her own conception so long as this conception is in harmony with the general principles of the Women's Int. League. We are not aware that these principles repudiate compromise as such in all circumstances. We are of opinion that one cannot [generalize] concerning compromises seeing that it depends on the nature of the latter whether they be for good or evil. In fact we agree with the English section in this that where strife is to be settled without force, it is only possible when both parties are able to compromise.
2) It seems to us a matter of course and quite natural, that in every association based on intellectual principles and occupied with intellectual problems, that also in the Women's Int. League individual opinions will differ in many points. We do not however consider such difference as hindrance where the members are bound together by the [endeavor] after the same goal. On the contrary we find that the lasting stability of such a Union is all the more certain, the more scope is permitted to individual opinions, as long as they agree with its fundamental idea.
3) We feel that a League of Peace and Freedom can remain worthy of its name only when the above principles are adhered to, and when a considerate and courteous language is used in the mutual intercourse of its branches.
At the same time we should like to add the following to the protocol of the executive meeting of September 1927:
On page 14 and 15 the retirement of three executive members and the necessary cooption of substitutes is deliberated. We beg to draw attention to the fact that on account of the great importance of the executive members it were desirable that the executive committee should let all the national sections have a list of candidates which the former consider suitable to fill the vacancies. [page 2]
This election method enables all sections to vote as at a congress; this seems to be the fairest way.
For the Austrian section (Social group)
With the best greetings
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