NAWSA Subject File United Nations National American Woman Suffrage Association CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT. President NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS [1624 GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL BUILDING] [70 EAST 34TH STREET NEW YORK, N.Y.] [TELEPHONE: MURRAY HILL 6-4144] 120 Paine Avenue New Rochelle, New York FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT Mrs. Stanley McCormick, Illinois SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT Mrs. Herbert Knox Smith, Connecticut THIRD VICE-PRESIDENT Mrs. Guilford Dudley, Tennessee FOURTH VICE-PRESIDENT Mrs. Raymond Brown, New York FIFTH VICE-PRESIDENT Mrs. Maud Wood Park, Maine TREASURER Mabel Russell, New York RECORDING SECRETARY Mrs. Halsey W. Wilson, New York DIRECTORS Mrs. J. C. Cantrill, Kentucky Mrs. Richard E. Edwards, Indiana Mrs. George Gellhorn, Missouri Mrs. Alfred G. Lewis, New York Miss Esther G. Ogden, Massachusetts Mrs. George A. Piersol, Florida Mrs. F. Louis Slade, New York Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton, California April 23 April [18], 1945 To the Delegates of the United States of America to the San Francisco Conference: [A British statesman, after the first World War, said: "Another war like this one just closed would utterly destroy civilization." The second war came, nevertheless, and an American statesman has just said: "A third World War would return the world to the barbarism of the Stone Age. These discoveries of new methods of killing, this shift from wars between men to wars against women and children, and the gigantic destruction of men's toil of centuries, make certain the extinction of civilization."] Many believed, in 1918, that the chief nations of the world would arise and together make an end of war; that they had been sufficiently shocked by the combined barbarities of what was then called the greatest of all wars to make such action a willing and certain procedure. [The League of Nations was finally established, although without the United States. When the League called a disarmament conference, [millions] thousands of women, of many nations, including Japan, gathered petitions, praying that the pledges of disarmament made by the Peace Treaty should be fulfilled. When the women brought these petitions to Geneva they found [only] optimism changed to pessimism, [fear and] distrust. The Allies did not disarm. The Germans and Japanese withdrew from the League. Japan attacked Manchuria. Italy attacked Ethiopia. Nations protested, but nothing definite was done. The United States stood by her isolationism. Finally, a disappointed world discovered that a new war had descended upon it, involving more nations and peoples than any war in all time. The deadly devices to kill and destroy used in the first World War, including submarines, tanks and airplanes, were improved, made more powerful, and were produced in incredible numbers. Therefore, many now wonder whether a conference such as that to meet in San Francisco can devise a Charter complete enough to withstand the onslaught of the hate and distrust that will control men and nations when this war ends.] War is the most thoroughly established human institution. A Department of War and a Department of the Navy make ready for it. "The people rule" in democratic lands, but when war comes only a remnant of self-government remains. When men are needed, they are drafted; when money is needed, the people are taxed. Men or women who disapprove of war or disagree with a war policy may be and are arrested and thrown into jail and, in many lands, this is done without trial or hearing. Thus, war may become bigger and more powerful than the nation itself. Peace is a mere respite between wars. No governmental authority supports it. It can conscript neither men nor money. It is doubtful if war will ever come to an end while vested with so much power to overthrow peace, or if peace will ever become permanent while it possesses so little power to overthrow war. [The human race has now come to a time when it should decide definitely between War and Peace, two foes, unequally trained, convinced and equipped.] U.S. Delegates, San Francisco -3- April 18, 1945 The Security Council will be improved and strengthened at San Francisco, but will its provisions, however strong, stand fast against the powers of war to break them down? More, no one can know what may be the character or the power of men who will rule nations within a few years. Therefore, however complete the provisions for the maintenance of peace int he new Charter may be, [we ask you to] I suggest that you add another. [We] Urge every member of the United Nations to set up a [Department of Peace in its cabinet] Bureau of Peace [under the?] Dept of State, whose business would be to conduct a continuous, earnest, well organized, crusade of education, teaching the people by the press, the radio, and the forum the true story of the world's wars which [has] have nearly wrecked civilization so many times, and leading [the people] them [in doing] to do what is necessary to prevent war. [It is easy to teach people to hate war, it is quite another thing to create a willingness to accept the responsibilities and make the sacrifices necessary to maintain peace between nations.] It should conduct eventual [?] research also, such a [Department of Peace] Bureau would enlist a volunteer army of the Press, the Churches, the schools, economists, psychologists, scientists, historians, and especially women, with their host of club and audience halls. [A] Such a Peace [Department] Bureau in the [national cabinet] State Department would be no hindrance to the success of any plans the United Nations may propose. [The Security Council?] On the contrary it would supplement and strengthen them. We are confident that you will use your distinguished services to so build a Charter that [it] will prevent future wars, if possible. [We] I entreat you not to omit the creation of the machinery for a [continuous] [?] campaign of education, which alone will convince each nation that peace is the only policy for civilized people to follow, and the only salvation for the world. Peace won by education will be permanent. War broken that won by forces us to rely [?] NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOC. [Committee: Mrs. Raymond Brown, Vice Pres. Miss Esther G. Ogden, Director Mrs. F. Louis Slade, Director] By President Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.