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WOMANKINDEdited by DOROTHY LONGMANWOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM HOLD CONGRESSWomen from every quarter of the glolte, representing almost every faith and creed, of varying social, racial, and economic backgrounds, and poles apart in their habits of daily living, but united in one cause, AH Women Against All War, met at Luhacovice, Czechoslovakia, from July 26 to 31. in the Ninth International Congress of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.The agenda, after formal routine business, dealt primarily with the Basc^ of a New International Order. This topic was broken down into four subheadings: (1) The creation of a real League of Nations; (2) Colonial questions—oolitic*!, economic, cultural, and judicial; (3) International planned economy; and (4) An inntcrnational currency, possibly at first side by side with the national currencies.Jane Addams, of Hull House fame, was International President and a guiding spirit of this group from the time she presided over the first International Congress of Women at The Hague, April 28 to May 1, 1915, until the time of her death in May, 1935. It was felt impossible to name a successor, anil three joint Presidents, Clara Kagaz (Swiss), Gertrud Baer (German), and Cor. Ramondt-Hirschman (Dutch), now carry the responsibility.The second International Congress met in Zurich in 1919, when the name. Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, was adopted. and an International Office located at 12 Rue du Vicux College, Geneva. Switzerland. was set up. International Congresses have licen held every two or three years since—the latest previous to 1937 again at Zurich, in 1934.The W. I. L. (as the League is commonly called in these days of alphabet language) has l»ecn a pioneer on an international frontier. The steps for which it has sometimes been called radical, have become generally accepted after a few years. Resolutions adopted by the first International Congress in 1915 embodied many of the principles afterward included by President Wilson in his famous Fourteen Points and in the Covenant of the League of Nations. The Versailles Treaty was condemned as containing the seeds of future wars at the second Congress in Zurich. 1919. Now the evils of the Treaty are widely reoogm/cd. From the very beginning, the W. I. L. has emphasized the part which munition manufacturers have in precipitating international war. Investigation of munitions industry in the United States was direct result of league activity.Besides the holding of Congresses which established policies, the W. I. I.. develops certain projects directed by the International Executive Committee. It has conducted summer schools almost every year since 1921 in places and on topics which are the most burning issues at the time. The first one, ai Salzburg, in 1921, was attended by 300 persons from 21 countries, including China. Japan, and India. Since then, they have met in Italy, Czechoslovakia. the United States. France, Switzerland, England. Hungary. Bulgaria, and other countries.There have been several important conferences held, notably that on Scientific Warfare in Frankfort, 1926; that on Opium and Narcotics, in Geneva. 1930, which grew out of the request of Chinese members, who urged international agreements limiting manufacture and establishing total annual requirements under the League of Nations; and that on Statelessness—the tragic problem Of refugees or of other persons without citizenship—also held in Geneva, in 1930.At the time when the question of minorities was very acute, a Congress of Eastern Europeans was held in Vienna in 1929, which for the first time introduced the women peace leaders of the Balkans and Turkey to each other. An Inter-American Conference w’as held at Mexico City in 1930. and one on Economic Co-operation at Paris in 1931.As early as 1915, the W. I. L. stressed the importance of investigation and control of the munitions interests, nationally and internationally. In the midst of the World War. a series of international delegations of distinguished women visited the leaders of every important belligerent and neutral government, including Russia, with definite plans and proposals and an appeal for immediate and continuous mediation.The League today has National Sections in 28 countries, and organized groups in many more. Ranking American officers are: Mrs. Hannah Clothier Hull, of Swarthmore, Pa., National President; Miss Dorothy Detzer, Washington, D. C, National Executive Secretary (Miss Detzer was named by Drew Pearson, newspaper syndicated columnist, as one of the outstanding women of America) ; and Mrs. Mildred Scott Olmsted, Philadelphia. National Organization Secretary.Other Pennsylvania women who arc prominent in W. I. L, activities are; Mrs. Eugene Springer, Mrs. Philip Kind. Mrs. Joseph Moos, Mrs. Bern-hard Ostrolcnk, Mrs. Richard M. Fish el. Mrs. M. J. Lewis, Mrs. David Fishbaek, Mrs. 5ol Link. Mrs. Albert Gellman, Mrs. Frances R. Shatz, and Mrs. Dora Simovctch.Philadelphia women who attended the conference at Luhacovice include: Mrs. Mildred Scott Olmsted, Mrs. M. J, Lewis, and Miss Ellen Starr Brinton.Luhacovice is situated in a beautifully wooded countryside, about 1000 feet above sea level, and is a well-known spa on the mam railway from Prague and Budapest to Vienna and Dresden.
Newspaper Details
Philadelphia Jewish Exponent
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Fri, Aug 06, 1937
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Susun W.
USA 31 Jul 2017
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