First and foremost, it has advocated arbitration as a substitute for war, laboured for the final establishment of an International Law, and a Tribunal for the nations, and for a gradual reduction of standing armies; at the same time it has never ceased to raise its voice against the wars in which England and other nations have engaged. At a Universal International Peace Congress, held in London under the auspices of the society in 1843, it was resolved to send an address "to the Governments of the civilized world," whereby they should be earnestly conjured to consider the principle of arbitration, and to recognise it. This address was sent to forty-five Governments. By a deputation to the powers at the Paris Congress in 1856, this society succeeded, as before said, in getting the principle of arbitration recognised, etc. From the commencement, the English and American peace societies have worked side by side with brotherly concord. There are over forty peace societies in America. Besides these already named--viz., the _American Peace Society_, and the _Universal Peace Union_--the following are most important: _The Christian Arbitration and Peace Society_, Philadelphia; _the National Arbitration League_, Washington; _the American Friends' Peace Society_, for Indiana and Ohio, founded December 1, 1873; and _the International Code Committee_, New York, of which David Dudley Field is president. On the 25th of July, 1870, the English WORKMEN'S PEACE ASSOCIATION, now called the INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION LEAGUE, was founded by members of the "Reform League," a great union of workmen in London. Two years later this Arbitration League, under Mr. W. R. Cremer's powerful leadership, had well-appointed local associations all over the country, and nearly a hundred zealous leaders in various towns. Since then Mr. Cremer has become a Member of Parliament, and as such has had the opportunity of helping the peace cause in many ways; for example, as a zealous participant in the deputation of twelve to the President of the United States, which has been mentioned more particularly in the beginning of this work. In April, 1874, was formed the WOMEN'S AUXILIARY OF THE PEACE SOCIETY. This continued to work in connection with the English parent society until 1882, when a division took place. Part of the members gathered themselves into an auxiliary, now called the LOCAL PEACE ASSOCIATION AUXILIARY OF THE PEACE SOCIETY, which has thirty-three sub-associations in England only. The other part formed the WOMEN'S PEACE AND ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION.[31] At the same time great progress was made upon the Continent. In Italy a LEAGUE OF PEACE AND BROTHERHOOD was founded as early as 1878, by Signor E.T. Moneta. A workmen's peace association was formed at Paris in 1879, by M. Desmoulins and others, under the name of the _Société des travailleurs de la Paix_.