Marie Rusiecka to Jane Addams, July 10, 1919

Central Committee Resumption of International Relations Bern

Affiliated with the Union of Democratic Control, in London.

[Berne] this July 10, 1919

Hotel de France.

Mrs. Jane Addams

In Berlin

Very honored Madame,

Taking advantage of the opportunity presented by the trip of Dr. Woker to Berlin, where you find yourself to relieve the great souz I take the liberty to address these lines to you, as well as to submit to you a summary of our activity in Bern.

Our Committee was founded in Bern with the sole aim of facilitating rapprochement between peoples separated by war and by hatred. It was founded by those who have remained loyal to human brotherhood. And if I myself was the initiator of this association, it is because nothing that is human is foreign. I have spent my entire life serving more than the odd heroes. During this war in 1914 I went to Serbia, as a volunteer doctor, to help the unfortunate wounded and sick. And I returned to Switzerland, in 1916, after crossing on foot, with my hospital, Monténegro, and Albania, (the retreat of Albania), to the edge of the Adriati that in St-Jean di Medua. You are saying that I know what human suffering is. And that is why, when I got here I never stopped working for the reconciliation of peoples, because without an agreement between the enemies of yesterday, no peace is [page 2] possible. It is necessary slowly, to work without truce, to show to all those who still hate each other, and more than ever, because on one side are the victors, and on the other the vanquished, the path of harmony and oblivion . But hatred still roars in all hearts.

I had therefore thought of bringing together the fraternal souls of various countries and of working slowly to rally despite the borders, the enemies of yesterday. As you will see from the included list, my call was answered. And our committee [illegible] by Mrs Snowden, Buxton, [illegible] Pethick Lawrence and Charlotte Despard, as well as by two Swiss, it is considerably enlarged and can do a good job if it is able to live.

Unfortunately here in Switzerland there is not much interest in this activity, and our committee cannot count on any material help from here. Consequently, I come to ask you Madam to be kind enough to also interest you in our cause, and to help us to continue our activity with a view to an international understanding. By your great relationships in the beneficent circles in America, it might be possible for you to help us to have a fund which would allow us to have in Bern a room for our Offices (which are temporarily installed in the hotel) with a room of reading and meeting, it would be a place where nationals of various countries, from various continents, by meeting, would have the opportunity to get to know and understand each other better.

This room would eventually be used for conferences that could be given by speakers of various nationalities, in one word: a modest international fairy. And in this way it would be easier to work for a peace of peoples, to which we all aspire.

This is very honored Madam, my request to you. Perhaps the International League of Women for Peace and Freedom could help us. Because it's all the same goal, and the same cause.

In any case, I trust my request, and our cause in your hands, and I warmly recommend it to your heart. [page 3] If we could have at least a thousand [illegible] dollars to start with, we could already continue to live and work for some time. And it is always the beginning that is the most difficult in all these purely humanitarian things.

Miss Dr Wocker, who is also a member of our Committee, will give you all the information you need.

Please, Madam, take my request into consideration, and accept my respectful tributes.

Marie Rusiecka [signed]