NAWSA Subject File Union Francaise pour Le Suffrage des Femmes Union Francaise Pour Le Suffrage Des Femmes Adresse de la Presidente: Paris, 14, Rue Pierre-Charron Secretariat: Paris, S, Rue Schoffer Paris, February 1, 1918. 14, Rue Pierre-Charron To President Wilson Mr. President: In the historic message which announced to the world the entrance into the struggle of American force and American thought, you stated in unforgettable words what it is that your great Republic looks to as the outcome of victory: the right of peoples to self determination and a peace which shall endure throughout the generations to come. The French suffragists and those of the allied countries have heard your strong and beautiful words and have united to beg you to receive favorably the following request: Considering that from this war will come a new international right based upon the right of the peoples to self determination, Considering that no one should be authorized to speak in the name of these peoples so long as women are excluded from the political life of the nations, Considering, furthermore, that women during the actual conflict have shown the value of their social action, and Considering that the participation of the wives and mothers in suffrage would be one of the best guarantees of the peace to come, - The need that the belligerent countries have of women's help in the present conflict, and the suffering, moral as well as physical, that this conflict has cost them have given definite proof that without iniquity and imprudence they cannot be refused the opportunity to have through their vote an influence among the powers which shall decide the questions of peace and war. The women of the allied countries send this request: that in one of his next messages President Wilson will consent to proclaim the principle of suffrage for women as one of the basic rights of the future. We have read with emotion in the Women Citizen, Mr. President, the words of profound meaning which you addressed to the delegation of women from New York. If we quote them here it is because they are analogous to those which we beg you to address the humanity in one of your declarations which resound throughout the worlds. "It is a struggle which goes deeper and touches more of the foundations of the organized life of men than any struggle that has ever taken place before, and no settlement of the questions that lie on the surface can satisfy a situation which requires that the questions which lie underneath and at the foundation should also be settled and settled right. I am free to say that I think the question of women suffrage is one of these questions which lie at the foundation." Accept, Mr. President, the expression of our gratitude to our sister, America, and our profound admiration for the moral height of the declarations which you have made in her name. It is this which encourages us to ask your help, as a powerful influence in favor of the suffrage for women throughout the world. For the Comite de l'Union Francaise pour le Suffrage des Femmes and in the name of other national associations which appear on the attached list: President, (Vice Presidente de l'Alliance Internationale de Suffrage des Femmes:) (Signed) de Witt Schlumberger Vice Presidente: Jane Hismo Vice Presidente: Marie Louise Le Verrier Secretaire Generale: Cecile L. Brunschvieg Treseriere: Marguerite Dessvis Secretaire: Marguerite Pichon Landry Secretaire: Susanne Grinberg [[Left Page]] List of the Allied Countries where we have consulted the National Associations. The difficulty of communication, due to the war, has prevented us from receiving a reply from other countries, but we do not wish to wait longer to send you this Address, and we do not doubt their agreement: Great Britain Yes France Yes Italy (Comite de Milan) Yes Belgium Yes Portugal Yes United States Russia Australian Canada South Africa Serbia Romania [[/Left Page]] [[Right Page]] iniquity and imprudence they can not be refused the opportunity to have through their vote an influence among the powers which shall decide the questions of peace and war. The woman of the allied countries send this request: that in one of his next messages [[underline]] President Wilson will consent to proclaim the principle of suffrage for women as one of the basic rights of the future. [[/underline]] We have read with emotion in the Women Citizen, Mr. President, the words of profound meaning which you addressed to the delegation of women from New York. If we quote them here it is because they are analogous to those which we beg you to address to humanity in one of your declarations which resound throughout the worlds. "It is a struggle which goes deeper and touches more of the foundations of the organized life of men than any struggle that has ever taken place before, and no settlement of the questions that lie on the surface can and satisfy a situation which requires that the questions which lie underneath and at the foundation should also be settled and settled right. I am free to say that I think the questions of women suffrage is one of those questions which lie at the foundation." Accept, Mr. President, the expression of our gratitude to our sister, America, and our profound admiration for the moral height of the declarations which you have made in her name. It is this which encourages us to ask your help, as ....... a powerful influence in favor of the suffrage for women throughout the world. For the Comite de l'Union Francaise pour le Suffrage des Femmes and in the name of other national associations which appear on the attached list: President, (Vice President de l'Alliance Internationale de Suffrage des Femmes:) (Signed) de Witt Schlumberger Vice Presidente: Jane Miamo Vice Presidente: Marie Louise Le Verrier Secretaire Generale: Cecile L. Drunschvieg Treseriere: Marguerite Désavis Secrétaire Marguerite Pichon Landry Secretaire: Suzanne Grinberg [[/Right Page]] Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.