The venue for the next Congress had been left undecided at Brussels. When later a mail vote was taken, Paris emerged as the choice for this first postwar Congress. French members, now with their Federation re-formed, were delighted. So, one can believe, was every one of the 14 countries (out of 20) which sent delegations: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Holland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the United States. There were Observers from Austria, Denmark, Egypt, Hungary, Monaco, and Switzerland. Meetings were held in UNESCO House. M. Louis Joxe, Conseilleur d'Etat, Director of Cultural Relations, welcomed the gathering. His warmth was reflected in the welcome also of Dr. Walter Laves, Deputy Director General of UNESCO, in Dr. Julian Huxley's unavoidable absence. Maitre Madeleine Martinache, President of the French Federation, expressed joy and great satisfaction at having the meeting there. Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips was making her last appearance as President. This undoubtedly heightened the air of expectancy almost as much as any prospective changes in the constitution could evoke. It was important, she said, in her presidential address to examine the Federation's programme in relation to the conflicts of the day. She said: "Ideas and even ideals have changed. Old hopes are dead, new dreams have risen from their roots. In those war years, not only the bodies but the minds and spirits of those who bore the brunt were mangled as through a wine press from which was drained the relatively pure wine of selflessness. That wine is the life blood of the future." After giving reasons why she wished women could sit at those tables where the fate and future of the world was being decided, she said women would be less bound by protocol; they might display more flexibility and ingenuity. Leaving the general and addressing herself particularly to members, Dr. Phillips said: "I ask you to be as great in peace as you were in war. . . Let us face the future with faith and courage, realising that the human race goes painfully but surely forward, and that we are privileged to participate in the struggle of that progress." If it were possible to recreate the warmth of that deep, quiet, and slow speaking voice, the sincerity that gave substance to the abstract, none could fail to be moved, as those who heard her were, to the belief that they were "integral parts of a world struggle toward freedom of spirit." Later, relinquishing the chair to Miss Dorothy Heneker, while she made her business report on the preceding nine years, Dr. Phillips said that the Federation office's tasks had ranged from world legislation to finding rare dyes for a European expert in fine textiles or trying to locate a book for a member author, the plates and copies of which had been destroyed. An announcement made by Miss Margaret A. Hickey, Chairman of the United Nations Committee, gave great satisfaction. The International Federation, she said, was one of the first few nongovernmental organisations out of the many who applied, to be granted consultative status by the Economic and Social Council. It would confine itself in representation to those subjects in which it has special interest and experience. Observers had already attended sessions of the General Assembly, the Human Rights Commission, and Status of Women Commission. A comprehensive pamphlet, "Women and the United Nations," had been published and widely used to implement the recommendations made at the Brussels Board Meeting. Recommendations now made by her Committee included vigorous efforts to increase understanding of the U.N. and the work of its specialised agencies, such as the World Health Organisation (W.H.O), and UNESCO, support of the International Children's Fund by national governments, and the support of a sound merit programme in the U.N. Secretariat. All the recommendations were approved, and a suitable resolution passed for transmission to the United Nations. Possibly the exhilaration of again meeting together made members feel capable of undertaking anything. Certainly the recommendations put forward by Mme. Kraemer-Bach, Chairman of the Legislation Committee in 1938 and now again at its head, called for considerable action on the part of national federations. They were without delay to form their own Legislation Committees which would distribute information and reports put out by the International Committee. The matters on which it would be concerned to provide such material would be: (1) Important International Conventions touching upon the Federation's various interests so that, where necessary, action could be taken to urge governments to ratify them or to enact appropriate legislation. (2) New legislation which might be restrictive against business and professional women. (3) Possible legislation to remove or lower existing barriers which prevented such important gatherings as international exhibitions. This watchfulness would necessarily entail alert and informed action. None could know whether women would prefer to "be relegated to the role of spectator in peace time," or whether the responsibilities they had recently carried had opened the way for a permanent change. Under the title "Toward a More Effective Womanhood in Public Life," earnest pleas were made by several speakers, notably, Miss Margaret Hickey who said, "with the help of women, I am convinced that the peoples of the world have enough leadership to achieve the goals outlined in the Charter of the United Nations." "Women's organisations," she continued "provide ladders of training upon which individuals may climb from obscurity to leadership." Meanwhile, the immediate need was to give real meaning to the Federation's Committees which were operating. Mme. Anni Voipoi-Juvas of Finland, acting for Miss Havener, Chairman of Publicity who could not be present, reported a resumption of international radio broadcasts. Especially important among this Committee's recommendations were: (1) the appointment of a permanent Information Officer; (2) the expansion of Widening Horizons into a substantial printed magazine carrying articles of international value to business and professional women, and illustrations, among other things; (3) the publication of an illustrated book on the International Federation's aims and its work. The Commercial Exchange Committee had neither functioned during the war nor effectively since. It was, in fact, removed from the Constitution in 1950 when Miss Betsy Kiek-Wolffers reported that governmental regulations had not eased sufficiently the commercial traffic between various countries. On the other hand, the Employment Exchange Committee created at Brussels was firmly recommended by Fru Agda Rössel (Sweden), who detailed the lines it should take. This and the United Nations Committee were added to the list of Standing Committees. The financial "know-how" of Miss Gordon Holmes was shown to have borne fruit. Mrs. Claridge Taylor, presenting the Treasurer's Report, said that 1938 had shown a deficit of $1,600.00 and she felt justifiably proud to be able to report a surplus of $3,327.13 at the close of June 1947. £1,200 of the Lights Up Fund had helped in organising Clubs in Holland, France, Denmark, and Australia. Owing to a sudden indisposition, Miss Gordon Holmes could not present her own report. But through Mrs. Claridge Taylor, she urged that National Federations should make every effort to remit their Dues to the International. In some instances, Governments would make exceptions under currency control for such payments. Alternatively, the amount due should be set aside and an auditor's certificate sent to Headquarters for use of the International Federation through whatever channels they could devise. Her final plea was for a proper sense of responsibility towards the International's finances for its continued progress. At least there could be no further uncertainty about what was expected. A revision of the Constitution, adopted at this meeting, set definite rates for affiliated organisations. Annual Dues for National Federation members would, in the future, be in United States currency 10 cents per capita for affiliated Clubs, 1 cent per capita for affiliated organisations (other than Clubs), and $5.00 for Associate Members, or the equivalent in standard currencies of other countries. Active membership was still to be limited to one National Federation Member from each country. To the objectives of the International was added: "To make available and ensure the use of the specialised knowledge and economic and technical skill of business and professional women in the promotion and support of the programmes and activities of world governmental organisations." Just how that could be pursued, time alone would show. The number of voting delegates to Congress was reduced from twelve to six as being more within the financial range of the smaller countries. The Constitution Committee had been chaired by Judge Lucy Somerville Howorth of the United States. There was rising excitement when it became known that the Nominating Committee had not been able to conform with the Constitution, and therefore had no nominations to offer for the Presidency or any other office. Dr. Phillips discharged the Committee and called a meeting of the Board of Directors. They had made certain recommendations on nominations, and she asked Miss Margaret P. Hyndman (later to become Canada's first woman K.C.) to present the Report. The nominees who had given their consent were: For President: Miss Sally Butler (United States) For Vice-Presidents: Dame Caroline Haslett (Great Britain), Miss Margaret P. Hyndman (Canada), Dr. Ines De Guidi Insabato (Italy), Maitre Madeleine Martinache (France), Dr. Gilda Peraza (Cuba), Miss Margery L. Toulson (New Zealand), Mrs. Anni Voipoi-Juras (Finland), Mme. Marie Wolfova (Czechoslovakia) For Secretary: Fröken Bergliot Lie (Norway) For Treasurer: Mrs. Isabelle Claridge Taylor (United States) Delegates were advised by Dr. Phillips of their right to make nominations from the floor. There were none. Further consultation was had with parliamentarians, who ruled that under the existing circumstances, it was legal to have one person cast the vote of elections. Mrs. Olivia Johnson of the United States, seconded by Mme. Kraemer-Bach of France, moved that the President cast the vote immediately. This was unanimously carried. The President complied "by virtue of the authority vested in me, I hereby cast a ballot electing Sally Butler as International President," and so on through the list. Tension subsided. The incident is treated rather fully because it was a unique occasion, calling for cool heads and expert handling. Towards the end of the business sessions, Dr. Phillips was made a permanent member of the Board of Directors. Miss Sally Butler, President-elect, who moved the motion said it was by reason of her long service to the Federation, her great influence, and her services given to the women of the world in founding the International Federation of Business and Professional Women. Dr. Phillips was given a standing ovation and was understandably moved when she expressed her thanks. Mme. D. A. Vavasseur, Vice-President of the French Federation, had arranged a varied and most pleasing social programme. There was an Exhibition of Fine Arts and Handicrafts at the Club Feminin, an evening of musical compositions and readings by French members, a fashion show, and many receptions by delegations. Monsieur Marius Astier, Vice-President of the Municipal Council at a civic reception in the Hotel de Ville added to the more formal welcoming words his conviction that it was "natural now to meet women in all professions on an equal footing." The farewell banquet took place at UNESCO House with Mr. James B. Orrick, Chief of the Department of Public Information, as the principal speaker on the theme "To the Future." The next day Miss Sally Butler met members of the Board of Directors for the first time as International President. The meeting was brief and dealt mainly with administrative machinery. An invitation was extended by Dame Caroline Haslett for the next Congress to be held in Great Britain in 1950 when the United Federations of Great Britain (the "Bridge" formed to link the British Federation with the National Federation for affiliation purposes) would handle all the arrangements. It was accepted. Miss Hyndman of Canada and Dr. Peraza of Cuba were appointed members of the Executive Committee, a third to be chosen later. A New Era The Board of Directors did not meet again until June 1949 in Helsinki. By then, its United Nations Committee, under Dr. Hickey, was initiating an even wider programme. The Federation could claim to have made a definite contribution to sound international relationships. Dr. K. Frances Scott read Dr. Hickey's Report in her absence. Practical assistance had been given to the programmes of U.N. specialised agencies by bringing them to the attention of influential groups of women throughout the world. A tribute to the fine work done by National Federations lay in the renewal by the Economic and Social Council of the International's Consultative Status in Category B. (see Appendix No. 2) Special mention was made of the support given by the United Federations in Great Britain. The United States, Australia, Union of South Africa, and others, including Great Britain, had set up educational programmes, and the local United Nations Committees of the Federations had often become the focal point of Community responsibility. The International Federation was invited to the Third Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations on United Nations Information at Lake Success, New York, in April. A delegation of nine attended, headed by Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips, who was unanimously elected President of the Conference. The International was represented at meetings of other Committees by Dr. Hickey (United States), Miss Ruth Tomlinson (Great Britain), Mme. Kraemer-Bach (France), and Mrs. Esther W. Hymer (United States), who gave particularly distinguished service in the preparation of another supplement, her third, to the series Women and the United Nations. As might be expected, the work of the United Nations Committee expanded most rapidly. It was important that it should. There was the incentive of recognised status with the Economic and Social Council and having a permanent representative there, and the probability of promotion from observer to consultant status at the I.L.O. and UNESCO. Documentation was plentiful. Other Standing Committees such as those on Legislation and Employment Exchange had to hammer out their own programmes and find the experts among Federation members to make them intelligible to rapidly growing numbers. Discussion brought out the advisability of limiting such committees to six persons selected to represent regional groupings with the responsiblity for preparing and circulating programme material to corresponding national committees. In reality, the Federation was still feeling its way. A good deal of time had to be spent, not merely on picking up old threads, but disentangling them and discovering which could be stretched to new dimensions and which would best be replaced. Either treatment called for careful, unhurried thinking, and it becomes no longer possible within the limited size of this history to mention in detail each step in the recommendations made and discussed. They were not without practical difficulties nor more subtle ones arising from the need to strictly maintain the Federation's nonpartisan character now reaffirmed in its acceptance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was possible for the Federation to urge, as it did by resolution at this Helsinki meeting, that Dutch legislation, which required married women officials to be dismissed after January 1950, be brought into accordance with Article 2 of the Charter and to press for the application of Article 15 concerning the nationality rights of married women. It could not, under any circumstances, be used for disseminating political propaganda. It had been found impractical to hold a Board Meeting in the summer of 1948. This seems to have sparked two trial regional meetings: one in Oslo (known as the Nordic Conference) in May, and one in London in October that year in order that European members should still be able to meet each other. As a result of the success of these meetings, the Executive had appointed a special Committee, chaired by Miss Margaret P. Hyndman of Canada, which subsequently recommended that the Constitution should be amended to provide for Regional meetings. The social round at this meeting in Helsinki started with an official reception by Mme. Alli-Paasikivi, wife of Finland's President. It progressed through a luncheon as guests of the City Government at Kaupunginkellari, a hall decorated by unique ceramic murals and by the paintings of a young woman artist, Tove Jansson; luncheons and cocktail parties by Mme. Tyvne Leivo-Larsson, Minister of Social Affairs, and the Minister of Communication, Mr. Erkki Harma; a Sibelius Concert by the Helsinki Symphony Orchestra; a lunch at the House of Parliament, and the closing banquet in Kalastajatorppa Hall on a tree-framed seashore, not to mention private hospitality. It is in this kind of social coming-together, as much as in meetings and the absorption of reports, that it is possible, as Miss Sally Butler said from her Presidential chair to which she had succeeded in Paris, "to become familiar with the circumstances in other countries and find new incentive to meet our obligations towards our International Federation."