CATT, Carrie Chapman GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Radcliffe Liberal Club Whitman Hall, Radcliffe College. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, 171 Madison Avenue , New York City, N.Y. Dear Mrs. Catt:- Thank you for your letter and the enclosed question- naire. We are only too glad to have an opportunity to answer it. Inaccurate and unjust criticisms of all organizations that maintain liberal attitude, or show an interest in the cause of peace, must be corrected We appreciate your patriotic effort in seeking the truth in regard to these criticisms. At Radcliffe in recent years there have been two or- ganizations of a liberal nature. I have filled out answers for the questionnaire, to cover both the "Liberal Club", and the "Students International Assembly." The Liberal Club dwindled and died last year. There is some talk of founding a new Liberal Club this spring. The Students' International Assembly was founded in the fall of 1922 and is still very active. Personally, I am not this year an officer in either or- ganization. I was twice Treasurer of the Liberal Club and the first President of the Students' International Assembly. The Student Government Council has asked me to reply to your letter. In addition to the answers to the questionnaire, I may add that the "six fellows" referred to by Mr. Marvin undoubtedly were the six foreign students brought to this country by the Page Two. National Student Forum, 2929 Broadway, New York City. There were two from Germany, and one each from Czechoealovakia, Holland, Denmark, and England. Some of these were socialists politically, but none of them were communists. The original group I am told consisted of seven, the seventh member being communist, who was refused his passports and never came to this country. These students were chosen to represent different elements in the Youth Movement, and ll of them visited Radcliffe, three for one day, and three for three days. It was my duty to act as one of the hostesses. These students varied considerably in background, one being the son of a professor, another of a coal miner. All were intelligent and delightful. I liked them all except the Englishman, of whose general attitude on coeducation I did not feel sure. I have nothing definite against him, but somehow he did not inspire my confidence. We arranged a series of meetings and addresses for them. This was in the spring of 1923. The object of the National Student Forum in bringing these students to this country and in taking them on a tour to about 47 colleges and universities from the Atlantic to the Pacific was to strengthen the friendship between the youth in America and in Europe. By the summer of 1923 the Forum sent a group of American students abroad. They attended two International Student Conferences and were entertained throughout the summer by various groups of the German Youth Movement. Avia McKay, who at that time was a student in Radcliffe, was a member of that group. Her report of the great movement of the Youth in Germany was most inspiring Page Three. and encouraging. Her impression was that the mass of the young people felt that Germany had been ruined materially by carrying on the war, and that it was their task to build up a new civilization in which spiritual values should be paramount. She felt that their attitude toward life was in the main very wholesome. My only reason for connecting with the Youth Movement the idea contained in the quotation from Mr. Marvin, came from an article published in the "Atlantic Monthly" in the spring of 1923. The article imputed to the Youth Movement of Germany the same idea respecting the body of which Mr. Marvin speaks. Late in the spring the young wife of one of the German students came to this country, Mrs. Hana Tiesler, to meet her husband. I had the pleasure of entertaining her in my dormitory. I asked her directly if she knew of any foundation for the statements in the "Atlantic Monthly" article. She reiterated the fact that the "German Youth Movement" is NOT an organization. It is made up of an infinite number of organized and unorganized groups all of whom feel a certain responsibility for making the post-war adjustment. Their methods and ideals differ. My friend, Mrs. Erica Tiesler, said that among the multifarious groups, there was one of which she knew, that had thrown off restraint too far. Even these were not intentional debauches. Of course their manner of life had led to some unfortunate occurrences, which were blazoned abroad, falsely inputing them as the teachings of the entire Youth Movement. The National Civic Federation, of which Ralph M. Easley is Secretary, has a branch in Boston, which was very active in Page Four. watching the movements of these students who came to America. This branch stated that they had a secret agent in each college, watching and reporting the radical movements. It was probably through these agents that Mr. Marvin based his statements about Radcliffe. The Civic Federation published a pamphlet entitled "The Youth Movement, Do we want it in America," describing the six Students as "pacifists, socialists, anarchists and Bolshevists." This pamphlet was sent to many college presidents throughout the country urging them to forbid these students to come upon the campus. If I can be of further assistance, please let me know. Sincerely yours, Ruth Wheelock Ayres Radcliffe '25. QUESTIONAIRE SENT TO TWENTY-FIVE COLLEGE ORGANIZATIONS SUBTLY CHARGED WITH BEING TINGED WITH COMMUNISTIC IDEALS --------------- (Answers for the Radcliffe Liberal Club.) 1. When was your organization formed? Reorganized from the Civic Association about 1920. Disbanded Nov. 1923. 2. Was it organized by a foreigner? No. Or after an address by a representative of the European Youth Movement? No. 3. Have you had an address by a declared communist? Not that I know of, and certainly not while I have been in college. Or have speakers upon other themes espoused communism? No. 4. Has your society endorsed communism by resolution? No. Or the recognition of Soviet Russia by this country? No. 5. What is the primary object of your organization? To give due consideration to all points of view on current problems. Was it formed with or without the consent of your Faculty? It was chartered by the Student Government Association, and favorably regarded by the Administration. 6. Have you any connection with Soviet Russia or any of its agents? No. 7. Have you endorsed socialism by resolution? No. 8. How many of your members do you estimate are socialists? How many communists? None. What is your total membership? Purely as an estimate, six or seven out of a total membership between 50 and 60. 9. Have you passed resolutions forming any program aiming at permanent peace - such as the World Court, League of Nations, Outlawry of War, Etc? If so, what was their nature? Not as a Liberal Club. The College as a whole sent resolutions to President Harding in support of the World Court. 10. Are you permitted by your college to meet freely, - with or without supervision? Freely without supervision. Outside speakers were approved by the Dean. -2- 11. Does your organization consider itself radical? If so, what radical measures does it favor? No. 12. Does your organization consider itself liberal or progressive if so, what liberal or progressive measures has it endorsed? Liberal, Yes. Did not aim primarily to endorse measures, but to take a liberal attitude toward all debatable questions. 13. Have you endorsed the Youth Movement? 14. If so, what is your definition of it? [*13 and 14*] Believing that the Youth Movement is a phenomenon and not an organization we were interested to learn about it. As such it could neither be endorsed or repudiated. It is made up of many complex elements or groups of forward looking young people, most of whom are awaking to world responsibility. The ideals of various groups have differed greatly. With the ideals of some we sympathized. We could not give our approval to what we heard of others. 15. Has any speaker included any similar comment upon the relation of the sexes in youth as quoted from Mr. Marvin's letter enclosed? No. The Liberal Club disbanded Nov. 1923. Comment: Signed Ruth Wheelock Ayres For Radcliffe Liberal Club QUESTIONARE SENT TO TWENTY-FIVE COLLEGE ORGANIZATIONS SUBTLY CHARGED WITH BEING TINGED WITH COMMUNIST IDEALS ------------ (Answers for Students International Assembly at Radcliffe) 1. When was your organization formed? Nov. 1922. 2. Was it organized by a foreigner? No. Or after an address by a representative of the European Youth Movement? The inspiration for organization came from an address by Magbul Mahmood, a student at Oxford from India, founder of the Oxford Student International Assembly, and "first man" at Oxford, introduced by letter from Professor Gilbert Murray. 3. Have you had an address by a declared communist? No. Or have speakers upon other themes espoused communism? No. 4. Has your society endorsed communism by resolution? No. Or the recognition of Soviet Russia by this country? The Assembly of Delegates discussed the political advantages and disadvantages of recognizing Russia. The final vote was 7 to 5 in favor of recognition. This was in no sense as an approval of communism. 5. What is the primary object of your organization? To further the interests of international peace through the study of international relations, and by learning more of the customs and arts of foreign peoples. Was it formed with or without the consent of your Faculty? It was chartered by the Student Government Association, and favorably regarded by the Administration. 6. Have you any connection with Soviet Russia or any of its agents? Absolutely none. 7. Have you endorsed communism by resolution? No. 8. How many of your members do you estimate are socialists? None. The question is not germane to the purpose of the organization. How many communists? None. What is your total membership? 50 -2- 9. Have you passed resolutions forming any program aiming at permanent peace - such as the World Court, League of Nations, Outlawry of War, etc? If so, what was their nature? Supporting the League of Nations and the World Court. 10. Are you permitted by your college to meet freely, - with or without supervision? Freely without supervision. We have often invited the Dean to attend. 11. Does your organization consider itself radical? No. If so, what radical measures does it favor? 12. Does your organization consider itself liberal or progressive, if so, what liberal or progressive measures has it endorsed? (a) Generally liberal. (b) As above. 13. Have you endorsed the Youth Movement? 14. If so, what is your definition of it? [*13 and 14*] Believing that the Youth Movement is a phenomenon and not an organization we were interested to learn about it. As such it could neither be endorsed nor repudiated. It is made up of many complex elements or groups of forward looking young people, most of whom are awaking to world responsibility. The ideals of various groups have differed greatly. With the ideals of some we sympathized. We could not give our approval to what we heard of others. 15. Has any speaker included any similar comment upon the relation of the sexes in youth as quoted from Mr. Marvin's letter enclosed? No of course not. The Student International Assembly feels itself to be a part in America of the "Movement of Youth." Comment: Signed Ruth Wheelock Ayres For Students International Assembly Transcribed and reviewed by volunteers participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.