Memoirs of Bertha von Suttner: The Records of an Eventful Life (Vol. 2 of 2)Suttner, Bertha von
History
Memoirs of Bertha von Suttner: The Records of an Eventful Life (Vol. 2 of 2)
Suttner, Bertha von
Peace; Suttner, Bertha von, 1843-1914; Women -- Austria -- Biography
The importance of the plan scarcely requires argument. But I am taking
the liberty of inclosing an extract from the address which I gave
before the press club here and which clearly outlines my idea. It is
hardly to be expected that the scheme will be everywhere so
enthusiastically and unanimously adopted as it has been here, where an
exceptional intimacy exists between parliament and press. But
influential newspapers will everywhere be enlisted, and what we need
is the systematic labors of these unpartisan journals.
What advantage is it if, for example, the _Neue Freie Presse_
publishes to-day an article from your pen, Baroness, or one by
Councilor Bloch, but on the other six days of the week speaks of the
peace movement—if at all—in a scornful tone? Such sporadic articles of
individual persons, no matter how distinguished, are put down as
special labors, and any possible influence that they might have on the
reader is immediately rendered nugatory. Only the constant logical
attitude of the editorial boards renders the action of the press
effectual. Now then, imagine the press organized and conducted for one
purpose throughout the whole civilized world and brought into tactical
partnership with the parliamentary activity; then that steam power
which the Hague peace machinery needs to put it into action would be
supplied. This seems to us practically much more important than to
discover new articles which might be added to the Hague Convention.
After all this I hardly need to ask your benevolent furtherance of our
scheme, for I do not believe that anything could impart more power to
the peace movement than the success of this plan.
With greatest respect, I am
Your wholly devoted
Albert Apponyi
Undeterred by the South African war, the Interparliamentary Union held
its Conference, and the Peace Unions likewise assembled for their annual
Congress. Both organizations met in Paris, where the World’s Exposition
was being held. I got a letter from the French Senate inviting us to
attend the Conference as guests. Various circumstances prevented us from
accepting this invitation.
The Conference was opened with impressive words by the president of the
Senate, M. Fallières, now President of the Republic. The sensation of
the Conference was the bearing and eloquence of Count Apponyi. He
outlined his plan for a press union to be allied with the
Interparliamentary Bureau, and in fact the foundation for such a union
was actually laid. Unfortunately the matter did not materialize and was
not generally adopted. Success will come with the next attempt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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