Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-05-10
AMERICAN WOMEN
|. S|DESTEP PLEDGE
ON DISARMAMENT
Also Refuse to Vote on
League of Nations
Endorsement.
GERMAN DELEGATION
is DIVIDED ON ISSUE
Lady Aberdeen Explains Why
Preparedness Plea Was
Suppressed.

The International Council of Won
en- will work for disarmament and for
the inclusion of all countries in the
League of Nations. but without the
aid of the American council, repre-
senting 100000 American women
This was made clear yesterday
afternoon by Mrs Philip North
Moore, president of the American
council, because of the various inter
pretations of the status of the Amer
lean delegates in the action taken
upon these subjects at the forenoon
session of the council in the audito-
rum.
They did not vote. The action
pledging the council 10 work for the
speedy inclusion of all nations in the
league was passed without dissent
ing vote, while the disarmament reso-
luton was approved with a scatter
ing of nay votes.
This leaves the American women in
precisely the same position as if no
vote had been taken, according 10
Mrs. Moore. BY abstaining from vot-
ing and joining the discussions only
as individuals and not as represent
ing either the delegation or the coun-
Gil, she said, the situation on these
particular issues Is as if America had
no membership in the International
Council.
This action, however, does not af-
feet their status in voting on any
other questions on the agenda of the
conference.
German Women Pledged.
The German delegation is in
slightly different position. They
voted for the league resolution after
an official statement to the effect that
their action was based upon hearty
approval of the ideals of the league
but that they doubted the immediate
realization of these ideals. On the
disarmament issue Frau Emma En-
der, chairman of the delegation, told
the convention that the Germans
would abstain from voting. since they
considered the question infringed too
far on international politics to come
under the constitution of the council.
A few minutes later, however, Frau
Ender introduced an amendment to
the resolution designed to remove its
political complexion. This was de-
feated. Then the main question was
put before the house, and the Ger
mans refrained from voting.
But, it was pointed out. they had
acted as a unit in moving the amend
ment and that Frau Ender had
spoken on the issue not as an indi-
vidual delegate. but as the representa-
tive of the women of her country.
The final upshot may be that the
German women are pledged to work
for gradual, partial disarmament as
the sense of national security in
creaSeS.
DIR. Katharine Bemet Davis of New
York, the only American delegate who
spoke on the disarmament resolution.
stated plainly that she represented
herself alone and was not empowered
to speak for the council or her dele
cation.
Mrs. Moore also explained that. due
to the wide divergence of opinion
among American women, the National
Council at its annual meeting had
taken definite action TO pass over
these resolutions on the agenda.
Storm Thought Over.
The storm which broke yesterday
over the disarmament resolution is
considered to have marked the end
of the difficulties of the council on
the peace issue. Five other articles
remain for discussion tomorrow, but
these are of a more routine nature.
The first urges the study of the pro
tocol, drafted by the fifth assembly
of the league. Others indorSe the
league reconstruction scheme and
the International Labor Bureau. The
fourth urges efforts to bring about
better understanding between govern
mentS and minoritieS thrown under
their rule by the war treaties. The
fifth proposes that the councils bring
influence to bear on their governments
to have the covenant and aims of the
League of Nations taught in the
schools. The sting is taken out of
this for the American delegates by
the phrase applying it only to states
members of the league.
After the vote on the disarmament
resolution there remained confusion
in the minds of American patrons and
State chairmen as to just where they
stood. The text of the resolution as
adopted reads:
THE International Council Of Won
en-, while recognizing that general
disarmament is the ideal to be aimed
at, considers that 1t might be pre-
ceded by "a gradual. simultaneous
disarmament under effective control
to be agreed upon by the respective
governments and by the League of
Nations. They recognize that govern
ments will not agree to disarm until
they feel some sense of security. This
council believes that the way TO es-
tablish peaceful relations among ma
tions would be through a policy that
regards neighboring peoples as nat
ural friends and not as possible
enemies"
Support Strongly Urged.
The league resolution reads: THE
International Council hears with
satisfaction of the efforts that many
of the National Councils are making
to insure the success of the League
of Nations. The International Coun-
ell urges its constituent members to
make every effort to promote the
highest ideals of the league, and to
use all their influence to procure the
speedy inclusion of all nations"
Shortly after the disarmament vote
the delegates left for Mount Vernon,
where, in the name of the women of
the world, a wreath was placed on
the grave of Washington.
Lady Aberdeen was unable to make
the Mount Vernon trip, but remained
for a conference with delegates from
Latin American nations on the
prospects for securing additional ma
tional councils on that continent.
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