WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18787, 22 May 1923, Page 3

WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS

DEPUTATION TO SIGNOB MUSSOLINI. ROME, May 19. The Pope received twenty-five French, British, and American delegates to the Women’s Congress. He said he favoured the Congress though he could not approve of all the items jn its programme, particularly the divorce aims. A feature of the closing day f»f the Women’s Congress was a great procession of women representing the nations of the world from the Palazzo Dell Esposizione to the ofiice of the Minister of the Interior, their purpose being to hand Signor Mussolini the Congress’ resolution on women’s suffrage. The procession was heralded by the Italian flag and the alliance banner, and consisted of Mrs Catt, Madame Schiavoni, Bosio, the Italian women’s leader, official Government delegates, members of Parliament, enfranchised and unenfranchised women, with Italian women in the rear. Large crowds watched the progress of the procession through the streets. The deputation was introduced by the Secretary of State, Siguor Aseroo, who carried symbols of old Roman times—a bundle of sticks, and hatchet, denoting unity and power. Signor Mussolini reaffirmed his promise to grant women municipal franchise with eligibility to ofiice.