Henry Saunders Haskell to Jane Addams, December 14, 1914

December 14, 1914.

My dear Madam:

At the request of Dr. Butler, the Director of the Division of Intercourse and Education of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, I am writing to advise you of some steps which that Division proposes to take in the near future, in order to impress upon the American people the real and permanent lessons taught by the present European war, and to turn American public opinion, so far as is possible, away from the discussion of military equipment and so-called preparedness, toward the consideration of policies and acts that will promote the peace and happiness of the world and that will secure for the United States new honor and influence as a leader in the formation of world opinion when the war shall come to an end.

It is proposed to offer to various organizations throughout the country, including colleges, schools, fraternal societies, social and literary clubs, boards of trade, chambers of commerce and other similar bodies, a series of lectures and expositions on the general subject outlined above. [page 2]

For this purpose, the Division wishes to obtain the cooperation of a number of those leaders of public opinion who have identified themselves with the movement for International Peace. The Division would like to feel at liberty to suggest to those organizations or clubs which desire to hear a lecture or discussion of the kind indicated, the names of some twenty or thirty persons from whom each club or organization might select the one that it specially wished to hear. The Division would then endeavor to arrange with such person for the lecture desired at a suitable and convenient time, and propose to meet whatever traveling expenses were incurred by the lecturer in meeting the engagement, as well as to pay a suitable honorarium as might be arranged.

The Division desires to enter upon this work not later than January 1 and would be very glad to know whether it might have the benefit and the privilege of your cooperation and whether your name might be placed upon the list of those who would so far as their other engagements and duties would permit, take active part in this movement to educate and elevate public opinion in the United States.

I am,

Faithfully yours,