Index

Some events around Peace Day 19 July 1919, as reported in the Melbourne press over one week

NOTES cont.

Woman Voter 9 December 1915

At a meeting of the Women's Peace Army, held on the 2nd instant, Miss Vida Goldstein presiding, the following resolutions were passed unanimously

1. That the Women's Peace Army asks the Commonwealth Parliament be summoned immediately, to consider the Prime Minister's mission to England, and to give him a peace mandate from the people of Australia.

2. That in the opinion of the Women's Peace Army the method by which it proposed to raise a new army of 50,000 men is nothing short of conscription for military service abroad, and we are prepared to support those who in their love of humanity and freedom desire to resist this shameful violation of the rights of mankind.

3. As it is reported in the newspapers that though the enemy Governments are prepared to offer terms of peace, our own Government is refusing to consider them, we women... citizens of Australia... urge the men who asked to enlist on our account to ask in return how the women and children are to be protected from the enemies in our midst, who, under the guise of patriotism, raise the price of food and refuse to increase wages, so that families starve and mothers and children are driven into ill-paid industries, while these so-called patriots make enormous profits out of the misery of
their fellow-citizens.

Woman Voter 20 January 1916

Some 20 progressive organisations have united to hold a demonstration on the Yarra Bank on Sunday afternoon, 30th January. We invite our readers to join the choir, and to be present at this occasion, which we hope will be historic.

e. THEY WORKED TO SUPPORT THE 1915 WOMEN'S PEACE CONFERENCE AT THE HAGUE

The Woman Voter 4 May 1915

For news of the Women’s Peace Conference, which opened at the Hague on 27th inst., we shall have to wait at least five weeks!

Neither the “Argus” nor the “Age” has given us any information about it. To be sure, they told us that the inability of English women to attend the Conference, because of the shipping being held up, has caused widespread amusement.

Through the “Herald” we learn only that the Conference has passed resolutions:

1. Condemning the madness and horrors of war, and opposing the assumption that women can be protected in the conditions of modern warfare.

2. Declaring that women’s influence against war would be effective only when they had equal political rights.

3. Pledging itself to do all in its power to promote mutual understanding between the nations and urging the necessity for educating children in the ideals of constructive peace.

4. Stating that the women of the various nations were united, in spite of hatred caused by bloodshed. “Herald” cable from the “Times” says it was noted at the Conference that the German, Austrian and Hungarian delegates were more fiery in their denunciation of war than any of the other representatives.

These bare facts cause great rejoicing among us; but is it not deplorable that the great morning papers should ignore the Women’s Peace Conference and its deep moral and spiritual significance?...

We are hoping that Miss Harriet Newcomb was able to represent Australian women at the Conference.

f. THEY ORGANISED

The Woman Voter 15 July 1915

A large and enthusiastic meeting was held at the WPA rooms on 8th inst., Miss Vida Goldstein presiding, to form a Women’s Peace Army. Miss Goldstein said that the time had come to solidify the forces of women in Australia who opposed war, all wars, past, present and future.

Recognising that those who supported party politics might not feel themselves able to join the WPA, it was considered wise to enlarge our borders by forming a Women’s Peace Army, to which all sections of people could belong.

Women's Peace Army Resolutions

The newly formed Women’s Peace Army met immediately.Two resolutions carried at this meeting were:

“That this association, believing that war is a crime against civilisation and humanity, and that it places the interests of property before those of human beings, that it brings personal degradation to vast masses of soldiers and women, and greater suffering and horrors to non-combatants than to combatants, resolves to invite members and sympathisers to unite in an Australian Women’s Peace Army, which shall pledge itself to fight for the preservation of human life and peace between all nations now and always.”

“That the Women’s Peace Army, believing in the interdependence of nations, resolves to co-operate with the peace organisations of all countries and to adopt as the basis of a constructive peace the following resolutions passed at the International Congress of Women held at the Hague in April, with the addition for Australia of the WPA plank, 'The Abolition of Compulsory Military Training and Militarism.'"

g. THEY DEVELOPED THEIR OWN TERMS OF PEACE

The Woman Voter - each edition for 3 years

Women’s Terms of Peace

1. Women to be given Equal Political Rights with Men in all countries where Representative Government Exists.

2. Education of Children in Principles of Anti-Militarism and Internationalism.

3. Self-Government - Not to be Refused to Any People.

4. Abolition of Conscription and Every Form of Militarism.

5. Prohibition of Press and Platform Censorship.

6. Foreign Policy to be subject to Democratic Control.

7. General Disarmament to be aimed at by Governments taking over the manufacture of the munitions of war and controlling International Traffic in them.

8. Respect for Nationality - No territory to be transferred without the consent of the men and women in it.

9. Freedom of the Seas - Trade Routes to be open on equal terms to the shipping of all nations.

10. Investments to be made at the risk of the investor, without claim to the official protection
of his Government.

11. Secret Treaties to be void, and the theory of
the Balance of Power to be abandoned.

12. Our Social System to be remodelled on a basis of co-operation, so that production and distribution shall be controlled by the people for the people.

13. International Disputes to be referred to an International Court of Justice, in which men and women of all classes shall be represented.

14. No Declaration of War unless the people declare in favour of it by Referendum.

h. THEY EMBARKED UPON A CAMPAIGN OF EDUCATION

The Woman Voter 30 March 1916

Who Profits by the War?

Broken Hill (mining) Ltd. The report and balance sheet is commented on in the “Argus” of 9th inst. Profit of 196,059 pounds with 99,816 pounds the previous half-year.

The Woman Voter 20 January 1916 prejudiceandreason.com.au

Who Loses the War?

- The men who lose their lives.

- The women who lose their husbands, brothers and sons.

- The children who lose their fathers.

- The workers who lose their wages, who have to pay high rents and high prices.

- The fathers who love their boys.

- The mothers who have to go out and work too soon before and too soon after the boy’s birth.

- The child who goes to work instead of to school.
The babies who die from want and lack of
mother’s care, sacrificed to feed the fires of war.

- The young girls who can never be wives and mothers.

- The soldiers’ widows and orphans who will
starve on their pensions.

- The nation which is robbed of its young men and unborn children.

- All those who have brains to think and hearts to love humanity.

All these different classes of people who want the war to stop at once. Are you one?

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