My dear Miss Addams,
I have been thinking that our statement to be read at the annual meeting was much too hastily prepared and I am therefore writing to the members who were with us at Lake Geneva, with the exception of you Chicago people, to suggest some changes. If it is already printed, I will gladly pay for reprinting if these are adopted.
In the first paragraph, I think we should say, an Agreement for a League of Nations instead of establishment which would of course come later. I think the third paragraph should be omitted and shall urge its omission at the annual meeting unless we make it now. It has caused criticism here and I think is not expedient. Certainly it is not essential.
I would say something stronger than that "We are in sympathy", perhaps that we rejoice or are grateful that our President has said ↑etc.↓
Then I think we should add here something that must come in somewhere and will create less discussion if we formulate it instead of leaving it for the resolutions. There is a strong feeling here that we ought to stand by our President and support the government. This feeling may lead to a [split] unless we openly express our loyalty and show that we are against Germany.
I suggest this: "At this dark hour, when the malevolent forces which threaten civilization seem to be gaining ground, we pledge our loyal support to our country in its great task of over throwing ruthless, despotic power and in helping to make the world safe for peace loving peoples. We recognize that there can be no peace until the military domination of Prussia is destroyed." Doubtless this can be improved, but it ought to be as strong as this, and so worded that both extremes of our membership will support it. With the increasing victories and cruelties of the Germans our difficulties increase. We must be more explicit in our patriotism.
↑Yours hastily↓
Lucia Ames Mead [signed]
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