East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-04-29
H0nEN0F THE WORLD
GATHER TO DISCUSS
PROBLEM OF PEACE
EVERY COUNTRY. INCLUDING
BEILIGERENTS, REPRE-
SENTED.
What Can the Women of the World
Do to Stop the War? Is the Ques-
tiOn That This Conference win Try
TO AnsWer-Way Must BE Prepared
for Peace Treaty.

THE HAGUE, April 9S.-What
can the women of the world do to
stop the ware
Within the next three days some
1900 earnest. thoughtful. hopeful wo-
men, representing all the great ma
tlons-both belligerents and neutral
viii endeavor TO answer this question,
as well as present for the considera-
t;on Of the various governments the
claims of womanhood both in the for
mutation of peace terms, and after
wards.
At the invitation of the women OF
Holland. supported by leaders in the
progressive feminist movement in the
United SUSCEPTIBILITY the AM
erican Women's peace party-and
those Of the Scandinavian countries,
the International Congress of Women
opened its first days session today in
this peace capital of the world.
Among the delegates are many whose
husbands, fathers, or sons are now
fighting for their country-or already
have been slain or manned for life.
Leading the British delegation of 100
are two sisters of Field Marshal Sir
John French. Mrs. Despard and Mrs.
Harley, while it is said that practical
ly every one Of the 20 representatives
of Germany have close relatives in
the kaiser's army. Owing to the re-
strictions against indiscriminate trav-
el these days between France and
Holland-through England-only n
few French women so far have arriy-
ed.
More than half the delegates are
Dutch women, and a very large per-
centage of the others are from Den
mark, Norway and Sweden. A party
Of fifteen, under the leadership of
Miss Jane Adams, came direct from
the United States, via Rotterdam, in
order to avoid the vexatious delays of
travel through England caused by the
severe regulations regarding use of
passports, home office permits, etc.
Delegations are also present from
Russia. Austria, Hungary, Serbia and
even Turkey. one American woman
has come, upon her special request,
to voice the plea of the women OF
her country who have been suffering
cruelty in the war. The war-swept
countries of Belgium and Poland
Italy, Greece, and the other Balkan
states are likewise represented. in ad-
dition to various British colonies.
In order to prevent acrimonious
debate that might lead to a disrup-
tion of the congress and thus defeat
the objects for which 1t was called,
the various women's organizations
sending delegates agreed in advnce
nat any reference to relative ma
tional responsibility" for the origin
or conduct of the war should be con-
sidered out of order This suggestion
was made by the central committee of
Dutch women whe arranged the de-
tails Of the congress and drew up the
/ tentative resolutions which will form
the basis for the general discussions.
THE only possible objection to such
a meeting said one of the organic
ers today, was that at this particular
| time, when national feeling is rum
ming so high, it might result in un-
1 seemly dissension. But we believe
that by taking this precautionary mea-
sure friction will be avoided"
A statement issued by the British
committee, which has already approv-
ed in principle the program outlined
by the women of Holland, although
advocating some changes in minor
points, says:
we women cannot disregard the
appeal So often expressed in letters
from French, German and English
soldiers, who from the battlefield
have called upon US to save ciyiliza-
ton; but more moving and more ter
rible is the silent appeal from the
daily growing cemeteries, from
the devastated villages and ruined
homes, the orphans, the outraged and
the starving.
1T is much more difficult for men
to meet in conference; they are in
the silent armies But women, as