Jane Addams Urges Women to Become Workers for Peace

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7240, 21 August 1933, Page 2

Jane Addams Urges Women to Become Workers for Peace

“We jump from the kitchen 1 into International affairs”, said Miss Jane Addams at Chicago, describing women’s rapid cmcrgcnco in Jho pcaco movement in recent times. She 3aid she expected to play an important role in bringing about tho substitution of law for war in- the near future. Women are less burdened than men by old nationalistic prejudices; they havo a natural flair for internationalism, said the distinguished advocate, founder of Hull House. Her address was the fourth of a scries on women’s contribution to tho century being given at a Century of Progress, the Chicago world’s fair, by the Chicago Women’s Club.

Women have already exerted a highly important influence for good relations among tho nations by.entering into, humane organisations which know no limits, she showed. Going back to pre-suffrage days, she recalled women's activities in international organisations opposing slavery and working for woman suffrage and temperance.

Turning to the present she noted that tho International Council of Women has branches in almost all nations, that tho world’s W.C.T.U. has promoted an ‘‘enormous understanding between countries,” that the Woman’s International League for Peace and Freedom spans many boundaries. : She noted also the international good works of more recent organisations, tho Save the Children Fund, the International Migration Service started by the Y.W.C.A. and others.

“It is largely through theso humane undertakings that we will get to know each other, and such knowledge leads to political action to substitute law for war,” concluded Miss Addams. "Women ought to be a large factor in bringing this about. The first Chicago world’s fair of 1893 with its international congress of women, did a great deal to bring women together for a discussion of their common interests. Let us hope that this world’s fair also may have an influence/ that from it may issue- a nowpressure by women for wider participation in world affairs.”

Miss Addams emphasised her conviction that internationalism does not mean a wiping out of national differences, but rather an increase in understanding among different nations. New inventions. . are bringing countries cloVor together, but .this “technological companionship”, she said, is not enough. There must bo with it a desire for getting along with the newfonnd neighbours. Addressing her wprlS’s fair audience of women, Miss Addams encouraged them to be active workers for peace. "We must have people who want peace,” she said, "people who see the need, the beauty and the inevitability of it. It doesn’t take a very large number of people in a country, but it takes some."' After all, sho. reminded, her audience, wars -are not ’impesd by nature like earthquakes. . “They are man-made and can bo controlled by men who arc reasonable,” she said.