WASHINGTON, April 26. -- With Jane Addams of Chicago as the principal spokesman, a delegation representing the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, today urged President Coolidge to instruct the American delegation to the preliminary arms conference at Geneva to work for the abolition of universal conscription and complete world disarmament.
Upon leaving the White House the delegates reported that the president said he was glad they were working for world peace, and that if more women became active in its support their desire could be accomplished.
The delegation handed the president a petition carrying the names of 8,000 women, many of them leaders in social and political movements. Miss Addams spoke for 10 minutes.
Miss Addams asserted that universal conscription is [unamerican] and that no nation ever had an army large enough to guarantee it against attack.
She asserted that the only way to secure peace is to substitute law for war in the settlement of international disputes.
The petition was sent to the State Department and will be read by the American delegates to the American arms [party], who leave for Geneva on Saturday.
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