one of the earliest attempts of citizen involvement in internationalism. 14 The Welsh
Declaration of Peace stated ‘we long for the day when the affairs of nations shall be subject
no longer to the verdict of the sword. And we feel that the dawn of the peace which shall
endure would be hastened were it possible for America to take her place in the Council of
the League of Nations’ . 390,296 women signed this petition which called for America to join
the League of Nations. The petition, which was reported to be 7 miles long, was taken to
America by Annie Jane Hughes-Griffiths, Mary Ellis and Eilned Prys to be handed to the
President. 15 In an entry from Hughes- Griffiths’ diary she speaks of how when in New York
she was asked to talk about her mission and said ‘I mentioned the link between Wales and
music Dr Damrosch – the story of Theo Roosevelt and Rev D. Richards about the perfect
marr iage between ‘O Fryniau Caersalem’ and the tune ‘Ola Derby’ asked for the perfect
union bet: Wales and America for World Peace will we produce a symphony 2nd to none’. 16
These three women represent how Welsh Women were now more politically engaged in
matters of international relations. The Welsh League of Nations Union represented all walks
of Welsh life and gave many an opportunity to share their views on these matters. 17 The
Welsh League of Nations Union allowed these women to make substantial contributions to
discussions of peace and gave women an international platform to share their views on
these matters.
One way in which the Welsh League of Nations Union interacted with communities
was through Daffodil Days. They pulled on the idea of outward looking patriotism and were
14 Eurig, pp. 41-42. 15 Craig Owen, ‘’Inspired by Annie’: The Story of the 1923 Wels h Women’s Peace Petition to America’ on Welsh Centre for International Affairs <"Inspired by Annie": The Story of the 1923 Welsh Women's Peace Petition to America - Welsh Centre for International Affairs (wcia.org.uk)> [accessed on 10/11/2023]. 16 Annie Jane Hughes-Griffiths diary, 15 th of February 1924. 17 Gronwy J. Jones, Wales and the Quest for Peace (From the Close of the Napoleonic Wars to the Outbreak of the Second World War) (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1969), p. 98.
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