WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18548, 25 November 1925, Page 2

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.

INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE. (raoir oub own coebhspokbhtt.) LONDON, October 15. From May 23rd to 30th, 1926, there will "be held in Paris the tenth International Congress of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance. This body calls upon its 33 national auxiliaries and u|Km the seven new societies either provisionally affiliated or applying for affiliation, to send the full quota of fully accredited delegates. It also callsi upon all women's societies, both national and international, which support the object of the Alliance, to send fraternal delegates to the Congress, and promises 'a 'most cordial welcome to all individual' friends and supporters of the women's movement in. all countries who may wish to be present at the deliberations. Since the last Congress,in Rome, in 1923, an important victory v -had been cained in Newfoundland, where, a suffrage measure had been passed giving women the right to vote, though not on absolutely the same terms as men. In India also three more provinces had 1 enfranchised their women, the United Provinces, Assam, and Bengal; as have also the Native States of Cochin and Mysore. "Elsewhere (it is.recorded) a great step forward towards the emancipation of women has been accomplished by the grant of the munfcipal vote, already in sight in Italy and Greece, and actually in. operation' inj Spain. In France a suffrage bill is under discussion and there is good hope that- the women of France will also" shortly have a ivictory to celebrate. -In other fields covered by the Alliance programme, women-are steadiy advancing; consolidating their gains in the professions; reforming-laws which have for centuries perpetuated injustices towards women; ceaselessly stating the women's claim' to economic equality; and ■making their weight felt in the political life of their countries in every direction.

"If the flood of spectacular victories has somewhat abated, the rising - tide is with the women of. the world, and no obstacle can for long stem progress towards that "equality of freedom and opportunity which is the vital .principle of the Alliance. Moreover, the creation of the league ,of Nations has opened to us a vast and hopeful field of work. It is significant that in this first effort towards world peace, women should have been: placed on an equality with men, so that it lies with them to help in the achievement of this mighty sum and thus to demonstrate their fitness for great responsibilities. Ihe work of their endeavours and the details of thei r work will be among the most interesting features of the Confess in Paris."