WOMEN’S LEAGUE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 242, 12 October 1937, Page 2

WOMEN’S LEAGUE

WORLD PLEBSCITE SOUGHT ON PROBLEM OF DISARMAMENT An international plebiscite on the question of disarmament was one of the suggestions put to the ninth congress of the International Women's League for Peace and Freedom, founded in 1915 by Jane Addams, which met this summer at Luhacovice, the holiday resort in South Moravia, states a special correspondent of the Christian Science Monitor. The plea was put forward that an international plebiscite would reveal the real “national will” of all peoples for destruction of armaments. The main theme of the debates was the new international order to be achieved within the framework of a League of Nations strong enough to prevent misuse of technical inventions for destructive purposes. The program included a discussion of the Spanish situation, leading to a resolution against recognition of General Francisco Franco; the necessity of rescuing children from the war area, internationalisation of aviation, regulation of State sovereignty, imperialism, colonial powers, minorities, and political refugees. Out of the 51 States which are members of the League, only 18 were represented. There were 200 women delegates. The congress was presided over by Clara Ragaz and Gertrude Baer from Switzerland and Mrs Rammond-Hirschmann from the Netherlands.

The Anglo-Saxon as well as Scandinavian countries were very well represented but there were no delegates from Germany, Italy and the U. S. S. R. Polish delegates were not granted passports, but some Hungarian women came as unofficial observers.