Union Francaise Pour le Suffrage des Femmes to Woodrow Wilson

UNION FRANCAISE POUR LE SUFFRAGE DES FEMMES

Addresse De La Presidente,
Paris, 14 Rue Pierre-Charron
Secretariat, Paris, 53 Rue Scheffer.

[Handwritten note]: Copy of translation

Paris.

In the historic message which announced to the world the entry into the struggle of American force and thought, you declared unforgettable formulae upon which your great Republic awaits a victory the right of peoples to self determination and a durable peace for generations to come.

The French suffragists and those of the allied countries have heard your beautiful and strong words and they unite in prayer to you for the accomplishment of the following resolution:

"Considering that from this war there has come a new international right founded upon the right of peoples to self determination,

"That nothing can be claimed to speak authoritatively in the name of the people which excludes women from the life of nations,

"Considering moreover that women during the actual conflict have shown the value of the social work which they are capable of performing,

"Considering that the participation of wives and mothers in the suffrage would be the greatest guarantee of the peace to come, the need that the belligerent countries have of their help in the present conflict, the sufferings, moral as well as physical, which this war has cost them, have given definite proof that no longer, without iniquity and imprudence, can one refuse to give them through their vote an influence in the undertakings which decide peace and war,

"The women of the allied countries express the wish: that President Wilson in one of his future messages will proclaim the principle of woman suffrage one of the fundamental rights of the future."

We have read with emotion in the Woman Citizen, Mr. President, the very profound words which you have spoken in response to the delegation of women from New York. If we recite them here it is because they are the same words that we would ask you to address to all humanity in one of your declarations which resound throughout the world:

"It is a struggle which goes deeper and touches more of the foundation 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 woman suffrage is one of these questions which lie at the foundation"

I beg you to accept, Mr. President, the expression of our great appreciation of our American sisters and our profound admiration for the high moral tone of the declarations which you have uttered in her name. It is this which encourages us to ask your aid, which will be a powerful influence for woman suffrage in the entire world.

For the Committee of the Union Francaise pour le Suffrage des Femmes, and in the name of other National Committees of which the list is joined hereto:

President, de Witt Schlumberger, Vice-president de l'Alliance Internationale du Suffrage des Femmes:
Vice-president, Jane Misme
Vice-president, Marie Louise LeVerrier
Secretary, Cecile L. Brunschveig
Treasurer, Marguerite Desavis
Secretary, Marguerite Pichon Landry
Secretary, Susanne Grinberg

Owing to the difficulties of communication due to the war several of our allies have not written to reply, but we do not wish to wait longer to send you this address. The list of the allied countries the National Woman's Suffrage Associations of which have been consulted are as follows:

Great Britain
France
Italy
Belgium,
Portugal
The United States

All of these have expressed their earnest desire that the President of the United States shall send the message to the nations of the world. The suffrage associations of the following countries have been addressed and no replies have been received:

Russia
Australia
Canada
Africa
Serbia
Roumania