The Washington herald., 1921-08-20
MISS ROBERTSON'S
VIEWS 0NOWN SEX
. DRAW COMEBACK
Women Leaders Resent
Claim of Unfitness for
Arms Farley.

Miss Alice Robertson finds herself
suddenly In . regular storm. raised
by members Of her sex. because she
questioned the existence of .
tiator on the American armament
commission.
Escaping from the deiuge of maii
which has come IN upon her relative
to the question. Miss Robertson was
attending 20 q plate OF bluefish IN
the House restaurant yesterday
when approached for an amplifica-
ton Of her ideas on the unfitness
of women for diplomacy.
Meantime ut other vantage points
in Washington leading surrragists
were showing how. why and where
Miss Robertson knew not whereof
she spoke.
Fail rs Liars.
II didn't say a woman fitted for
the place could not be found" said
the Oklahoma lady-politic.
merely said show me the woman
doubt IL one could be found who
would be able to cope with the
trained diplomats who will be a'
the conference
Expert diplomacy. I have been
told, is expert lying. I question
IL a woman exists who Is skillfui
enough in this art"
Some of the letters Miss Robert
son has received, taking ISSUE with
her on the point, declared she her
self was capable OF filling a post
on the American armament delega-
tion. to which suggestion she en-
phatically demurred.
Elsewhere, however, il was dis
closed that numerous women have
been suggested as capable of serv-
ing in a diplomatic capacity. Even
President Harding admitted receiv-
Ing one suggestion who left little
TO be desired In the way Of fitness
Picks several women.
There occurs to me. offhand, sew
eral women who would be ade-
quately equipped for such en- Office,
declared Miss Elsie Hill, chairman
of the National woman's party.
There are Miss Emily Balch and
Miss Jane Adams, both of whom
have had wide experience and have
kept up a constant study in inter-
national AFFAIR.". They. know the
fundamentals OF conditions as very
few statesmen know them. In ad-
dition there are Mrs. Louis Post,
Mrs. Blanch Eell-. Lillian Wall anc
any of numerous women WHO hold
high positions in colleges of law
and in the study OF international
affairs.
These and other women emf
nentIy qualified have furnished
much OF the material to the men
who have made spee=hes on dis
armament.
One Force Untried.
BY eliminating representation OF
women on the armament delega-
tons, President Harding. as well as
the statesmen of Europe. are leav-
ing out the one great untried force
-woman's assisting voice-that
might make this conference sue
cess where others have failed.
"If they omit TO appoint qualified
women to their delegations they
will show a shocking failure to
realize the forces available to eff
Feet a new SOLUTION of an old issue"
Mrs. Maud Wood Park, chairman
Of the National League of Woman
Voters. emphatically debated the
reasoning Of anyone opposing rec
ignition of women on the arma-
nent commission
War is not a mans game" said
Mrs Park. at never was. The
war has taught us that the great
mass of people should he repre-
sented in international agreements,
so il is logical that women should
lave a place there.
Human Interest Needed.
The National League of Woman
Voters. in requesting the appoint
nent Of n thoroughly qualified
woman familiar with women's in.
:srests and experienced in interna-
tional affairs to membership on the
conference. or IL the number OF
commissioners be so largely limited
- to preclude this, urging that
women of right qualifications be
appointed on such advisory commit
ices as the conference may create,
wishes to emphasize that there
'hould be representation of human
- we'll as business. professional
md governmental interests.
We realize that women have not
PRACTICAL experience 1 ndiplomatic
procedure and international law
We recognize the Importance Of
diplomatic and legal points of view
1ut We believe that these are
rot all.
Responsibility for Life
The craftsmanship OF the dis
ornament conference should be
supplemented by the hVnlan v.cw-
)oint: business and legal interests
" the vivid interest and keen In
Itincts which women bring to social
eryice. Women have a special re-
possibility for human life, a spc-
hal sympathy with il.
The sanfe qualities in women
rhich the world recognized and
kDed during the war she lid be
qually valuable in this conference.
which has been called in the hope
4 stopping. or lessening the
hances Of other wars