Women in International Relations, was the subject of an interesting address yesterday afternoon by Miss Jane Addams of Chicago, before the Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Association of University Women. This organization was delighted to have Miss Addams as guest at a tea in her honor at the Hotel Markham, Gulfport, and have the pleasure of greeting her as a college woman, an outstanding American citizen and a foremost advocate of political, social and economic freedom for women. Mrs. Rex K. Latham, president of the Gulf Coast Chapter, A.A.U.W., in introducing Miss Addams, characterized her as the "most distinguished woman in America." Mrs. Latham [image: Jane Addams] recalled her pleasure in having seen Miss Addams receive her degree from Smith College of which college Mrs. Latham is also a graduate. Miss Addams is spending a vacation on the Coast and is at the Buena Vista, Biloxi.
Miss Addams recalled the "renaissance" of the English members of the A.A.U.W. and told of the house in Chelsea which this group hopes to make an International club rendezvous for university and college women as well as a national house. She said of the English group: "This group has done much to bring together the college and university women of England and the continent." She spoke highly of the work done by the Swiss women in the recent past and present educationally remarking that though the Swiss universities were among the first in Europe to open their doors to women for graduate [page 2] work that the women of Switzerland were somewhat slower in doing advanced and research work than the women of England and America, but that now they are doing some exceptionally fine work.
Three women's organizations other than educational groups were discussed by Miss Addams, namely. The International Council of Women, a varied body made up of women in many of the professions; the International Suffrage Alliance, composed of women who are interested in obtaining suffrage for the women in all countries, and of which Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt was formerly president until the United States had obtained recognition politically and of which Mrs. Ashby of England is now president; and finally, the Women's International League for Freedom and Peace, known as "The League," in counter distinction to other women's groups. This latter was organized in 1915 at The Hague by a group of Dutch women who called together women who should protest against war as such, leaving out nationalities and personal politics. She said of this meeting which was attended by Belgian and German women, "The whole meeting was characterized by the utmost goodwill and fellowship before it broke up." At this meeting were assembled a number of points later used by President Wilson in his famous 14 points, said Miss [Addams].
The meeting of The League in Switzerland in 1919 was, said Miss Addams, "a remarkable meeting in many ways, as many of the women were able for the first time since the war to get out of their own countries." Other meetings were held as follows: Vienna, 1921; The Hague, 1922; Washington, 1924; and Dublin, 1926. Speaking of the latter meeting Miss Addams said that the women of Ireland wished to do what they could to placate the feeling of the war which is believed to dwell deeper in the hearts of women than men, due to their sufferings during the duration of war. Miss Addams was complimentary of the organization of working women found in Ireland saying that this group had a strong power. As a comment on all meetings held by The League, Miss Addams stated that she believed the work of women at the meetings showed new countries, such as Ireland and [Czechoslovakia], are learning how to work for the women of their countries and are coming forward with great enthusiasm and that the men of the countries are pushing them forward. In closing she said: "If we are not careful in America from sheer lack of interest in the larger questions that face the world, we will fall behind."
Following the talk by Miss Addams she was introduced to the members of the A.A.U.W. and their guests, each member having invited for this occasion a guest, making some 60 women in attendance. Miss Lucille Crighton, through whose offices Miss Addams was influenced to meet the A.A.U.W., and Mrs. Latham, acted as hostesses introducing Miss Addams.
Miss Addams was accompanied by Miss Mary R. Smith, her friend and traveling companion. The club honored Miss Addams with a corsage of violets and Miss Smith was presented a corsage of pink sweet peas.
The meeting was held in the gold room of the Markham and a decoration of bowls of Duchess roses and baskets of wild azalea were used. The tea table was laid in the parlor opening from the gold room and a tempting party menu was served. Mrs. Florence Arlen Tenney, hostess at the Markham, acted as official hostess at the tea table. A courtesy given the meeting was the playing by the Jack O'Lantern orchestra of a delightful program during the tea, the numbers including, Indian Love Call from Rose Marie, [Rubenesque], Rosita, In Heidelberg from the Student Prince, Song of Love from Blossom Time, Evening Star and Pilgrims Chorus from Tannhauser and Chaminade's Scarf Dance. The orchestra played at this time out of courtesy to Miss Addams and the A.A.U.W.
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