Dear Miss Addams
Our business has taken longer than the time we hoped would suffice but I think it has gone as well as we could have expected if not better. It lies so, that it seems very important to rendezvous in Amsterdam and compare notes and make further plans. I am afraid that this means that we shall be keeping you waiting a little. We are due in Petrograd Thursday night late -- June 10. Suppose we are there 4 days and stop over & see Finnish friends a day or two you can count for yourself when we may hope to reach Amsterdam, the overland journey Petrograd to Stockholm is 3 full days and nights and Stockholm to Amsterdam is 2 as there are no night trains. Madame Schwimmer left on Friday to be in Copenhagen for the Danish celebration on Saturday and then to go via Berlin to Budapest where she planned [to] be with her family a week and then rendezvous at Amsterdam.
Mrs. Lloyd and Mrs. Binns sailed Friday, I think it was and Miss Wales went with them. She [had] grippe or something in Copenhagen, [page 2] we had to leave her behind us in bed with fever and pains, Mrs Lloyds friend Mrs Haag looking after her (at Mrs. Lloyd's cost -- she is so generous). She then rejoined us at Christiania but very weak & still running a little fever and rather worried about herself. I hope we all did the wise thing in deciding for her going back now with Mrs Lloyd.
Baroness Ellen (not Ebba) [Palmstierna] whom you perhaps remember from the Congress or former meetings is our 4th member for Russia and is proving a charming addition to an already most enjoyable party. I can't tell you the pleasure it has been to be so closely associated with these fine and so agreeable women. [Traveling] is supposed to show up people's weaknesses -- well, they have been trumpy at every point. Madame Schwimmer is as considerate of other people in the smallest details as if she had nothing bigger in her mind. I have grown to both admire and love her.
Mrs. French has proved a most puzzling problem. Finally we turned brutal and frank and she was first angry then as [friendly] as ever apparently still persisted. I have a wretched feeling at the way we did and yet it seemed as if we had to. I don't know. You would not have done it as we tried to. But I don't know how to work your miracles.
We get no news, the newspaper accounts of the Berne reply is our latest. We hear nothing from Miss Manus and I get no home letters which is not surprising I suppose though I get troubled over it at times. I don't know why I bother you with this [however.?] [page 3]
I have decided not to sail as I planned from Christiania but to return to Amsterdam. I can't bear not to join in the conference and [illegible] hear your experiences and perhaps I can return at the same time you do if things fall out so but it looks as though the step had been taken and that only, and as though as the German proverb says "If you say one, you must go on and say two". I know how hard it will be for you to give more time to this, but -- It is inconvenient to have a conflagration start in a wooden village and our poor old earth is that village today and even a big pond is not wholly beyond the possible stride of the flames.
I sent a long [illegible] letter to Mr Lochner by Mrs Lloyd with some points that I thought might be usable at the White House if occasion served.
I am keeping Miss Macmillan out of the use of her pen so I won't add anything more to this portentous letter except my love to Miss Hamilton
Always affectionately yours
Emily G Balch [page 4]
P.S. This postscript is to support Miss Balch's request for you to remain on this side till we have had time to meet all interchange information and decide what it would be best to do next. Of course it must be most inconvenient for you and your own people must want you back badly for many things. If we This, however, is more important because it concerns the whole world so I do urge you to wait to see whether there is not a next step that requires to be taken.
Miss Balch has been suffering from loss of voice for some days and had to keep in bed. It was most disappointing that she could not meet and talk to all the charming Swedish women we met in Stockholm and that they could not get to know her. She is getting a little better every [day?] and we hope she will be right by the time we get to Petrograd.
Do wait here till we have met all and decided whether there is not something else to do on this side.
Give my love to Dr Jacobs & kind remembrances to the rest of your party. C. Macmillan.
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