WOMEN IN THE PEACE SECRETS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 159, 31 March 1919, Page 4

WOMEN IN THE PEACE SECRETS

T/le rungs of the official ladder of high diplomacy arc for tho first time being climbed bv women in the British diplomatic department of the l'eacc Conference nt the Hotel' Astoria, Paris, states the 'Daily Mail." They have been chosil.i for proved ability, and are being lisoil for most confidential work. Women are not being employed in the Secretariat or on.the' clerical staff of the Conference "'because of the shortage of men: there is no question of substitution or dilution; they'hnve been chosen as individuals because each is the best who can be found for her special duty. To-dnv in I'aris the pioneer work of tha "blue-stocking" of the ,'7o's and Ws is bearing its first full--fruits. These women arc the direct product of the campaign, then started to place,men.and women on the samo footing. It was then asserted,and is now being proved, that given cqtial educational advantages women could compete equally with' nien in any skilled profession. Every one of the one hundred and fifty or more women who arc here, has been specially trained for her duties. She is either :i public school and university girl and has taken'high honours in languages, in history, in economics, or similar subjects,' or has been selected for her speiini- porfessioiul ability. The appointments have been made; not only, from the clerical staff, of; the Foreign Office, but also from other Government Departments where success in confidential work has been marked for recognition. So strict'has been the selection that out of every seven trained in,' London for Peace Conference Work tor months preceding, the armistice only two or three have been chosen for Paris. - •Wiln the exception of a few private secretnri"s the women's staff is employed in the 'Registry on oflidiul correspondence, precis writing, docketing archives, and fili'ig and making historical and current in.lices; including the Foreign Office war aims index. The stall also includes woman stenographers and tpyists with, such linguistic ability that they are competent to recordidiscussions iu foreign languages ami copy foreign documents. 'file entire staff is now so busy at (he Hotel Astoria that there is little time for recreation and amusement. At the sane time the social arrangements at the Howl Majestic.. are well considered, and this - palatial Government residence lias nov tly distinction' ot being the most cjcltisire mixed club in-Kurope, and the honour of invitation to social functions is eagerlv sought not only by the British colony, but also by the Varisienne whose name is "interested curiosity."