Marian Ramelson, 'British Woman in New China': Report on the Asian Women's Conference, Peking, 1949
Pamphlet (1949, British WIDF Committee, Daily Worker-style 'Today' publication) in which Marian Ramelson reports on the WIDF-organised Conference of the Women of Asia in Peking (198 delegates, 23 countries). It relays delegates' speeches on child labour, polygamy, illiteracy and colonialism, and praises New China. Indo
CIA information report, April 1949: The WIDF in the Far East
CIA information report, April 1949 (catalogued 18 April): 'The WIDF in the Far East'. Lists delegates at the WIDF Council's first session (Paris, Feb 1947) and traces WIDF contacts in China, Malaya, Hong Kong and Singapore, a proposed 1948 fact-finding commission on women in India, Indonesia and elsewhere, and plans af
Potentials of World Communism: Women's International Democratic Federation (OIR report, 1949)
OSS/State Department intelligence report (1 Aug 1949) on the Women's International Democratic Federation as a communist front: origins in the Soviet Anti-Fascist Committee of Women, 1945 Paris founding, leaders (Cotton, Popova, Ibarruri, Cai Chang), membership claims and Asia activities. Indonesia is mentioned only in
National Conference of the Dutch Women's Movement in Amsterdam
De Waarheid notice (28 Oct 1949) of the national conference of the Dutch Women's Movement in Amsterdam, chaired by Rie Lips-Odinot, with news of the WIDF Council meeting in Peking and a talk by "an Indonesian woman fighter". Culture morning with peace films and choir.
FBIS, 30 November 1949: Interest focused on Asian Women's Conference
FBIS monitored New China News Agency report (30 Nov 1949) on worldwide preparations for the Asian Women's Conference in Peking (opening 6 Dec). Notes Indonesian women's delegation to Peking, funded partly by women's groups in Italy, Belgium and Austria, and Dutch women protesting the colonial war. Context for WIDF-link
Asian trade union conference ended in Peking
Short De Waarheid report (5 Dec 1949) on the close of the Asian trade-union conference in Peking, with resolutions and an appeal to Western workers including the Netherlands; WIDF spoke through Simone Bertrand, and gifts from Indonesia, Korea and Burma were presented. No Indonesian women named.
Chairwoman of Dutch Women's Movement in Peking for Asian women's conference
De Waarheid report (7 Dec 1949) on arrival in Peking of WIDF secretary-general Vaillant-Couturier and 20 delegates to the Asian women's conference, greeted by Deng Yingchao. The delegate list includes Lillah Suripno from Indonesia alongside Dutch vice-chair Rie Lips-Odinot, Eslanda Robeson and women from France, Korea,
First time in Peking: exhibition on the life of women in Asia
Short De Waarheid report (9 Dec 1949) on the exhibition on the life and struggle of Asian women and workers opened in Peking for the WIDF Asian Women's Conference, with material from the USSR, Mongolia, China, Korea, Vietnam, India, Indonesia and Iran. Speakers Li Dequan and Vaillant-Couturier stressed solidarity and n
FBIS, 13 December 1949: Many speeches mark third-day session (Asian Women's Conference)
FBIS monitored Peking radio report (13 Dec 1949) on day three of the Asian Women's Conference: Teng Ying-chao's report, speeches by delegates including an unnamed (OCR garbled) Indonesian delegate who urged an all-national united front under the Indonesian Communist Party; Dutch, French, Indochinese, Soviet speakers. E
FBIS, 15 December 1949: Lillah Suripno of Indonesia speaks
FBIS-monitored Xinhua text (15 Dec 1949) of a speech by Indonesian delegate 'Lillah' (Lily) Suripno at the Asian Women's Conference, Peking, 12 Dec. She thanks WIDF, surveys Indonesian anti-colonial history, the 1926-27 PKI revolts, Japanese occupation, women in guerrilla struggle, and calls for a PKI-led front of demo
Women in Colonial Countries: delegates to the Asian Women's Conference in Peking report (China Weekly Review, 1949)
China Weekly Review, 31 Dec 1949: report of delegates' speeches at the Asian Women's Conference in Peking (WIDF-aligned) on women in colonial and semi-colonial countries (Africa, Middle East, India, Indonesia, Netherlands, Vietnam, France, China, Korea, Madagascar, Burma). The Indonesian delegate Lillah Suripno traces
Mrs Robeson in Amsterdam (report on the Asian women's conference in Beijing)
Het Parool report (18 Jan 1950, p.168) on a press conference in Amsterdam by Eslanda Robeson, with Rie Lips-Odinot, Mrs L. Suripno who represented Indonesian women in Beijing, and Annie van Ommeren-Averink, after the December 1949 Asian Women's conference in Beijing and a Moscow meeting of women from 36 countries. They
Indonesian delegate: victory in China inspiring (Lillah Suripno)
De Waarheid item (10 Feb 1950) quoting Indonesian delegate Lillah Suripno at the Asian Women's Conference in Peking: guerrillas fight oppressors, Indonesian women's task is a free democratic state, the Chinese revolution is an example, and victory needs a democratic front under the Communist Party. Photo shows her besi
Soviet Woman, 28 Feb 1950, p. 47: A. N. Atanepesova's account of the Conference of Women of Asian Countries, Peking, late 1949 (198 delegates). Indonesia appears via delegate 'Lilia Suripno', who described partisan women fighting Dutch troops with babies on their backs. Reflects early WIDF-linked Asian solidarity; Gerw
Daily Worker, 17 April 1950: I saw Mao Tse-tung - delegate's report on the Conference of the Women of Asia, Peking
Page 5 of the Daily Worker (New York, 17 Apr 1950) carrying Betty Millard's first article on the Peking Conference of the Women of Asia, organised by the WIDF. She describes the train journey from Moscow with delegates including a Dutch woman active against arms shipments to Indonesia. OCR is garbled and the article co
FBIS, 13 November 1950: Women's federation (Kowani and WIDF delegates)
FBIS note (13 Nov 1950): the Kowani executive reports that three WIDF delegates (Shen Chi-shu, Chen Ke, Chi Yun) would leave Peking on 16 Nov to attend the Kowani Congress, 24-26 Nov; Kowani is described as a WIDF member. Shows WIDF links with Indonesia's women's federation shortly after the Sept 1950 founding of Gerwi
Shen Zijiu and others to represent WIDF at Indonesian women's congress (Renmin Ribao, 20 November 1950)
Short Xinhua item in Renmin Ribao, 20 Nov 1950 (p. 4): Shen Zijiu, Zeng Ke and Qi Yun of the All-China Democratic Women's Federation, with secretary Zhou Shumin, leave Beijing on 17 Nov as WIDF representatives to attend the All-Indonesian Women's Congress to open in Jakarta on 24 Nov. Early evidence of WIDF links to In
Shen Zijiu and others to represent WIDF at Indonesian women's congress (Renmin Ribao, 20 November 1950)
Short Xinhua item in Renmin Ribao, 20 Nov 1950 (p. 4): Shen Zijiu, Zeng Ke and Qi Yun of the All-China Democratic Women's Federation, with secretary Zhou Shumin, leave Beijing on 17 Nov as WIDF representatives to attend the All-Indonesian Women's Congress to open in Jakarta on 24 Nov. Early evidence of WIDF links to In
It began in Paris: five years of the WIDF
De Waarheid retrospective (14 Dec 1950) on five years of the WIDF, founded in Paris in Dec 1945, describing its heroines and growth to 91 million members in 59 countries, the 1946 founding of the Dutch Women's Movement, the 1949 Asian women's conference in Peking and the Stockholm Appeal. Indonesian women are only name
CIA report, 30 April 1951: Women communists in Indonesia
CIA report, 30 April 1951, on 'Women Communists in Indonesia': Chinese and Indonesian women's links, the Stockholm peace appeal, and Gerwis chair 'Sri Mangunsarkoro' protesting France's ban on the WIDF. Early foreign surveillance of Gerwis's WIDF ties.
Chinese women did not get visas to Indonesian women's congress
De Nieuwsgier, 3 Jan 1951 (AP): Peking radio complains that the Indonesian consulate in Hong Kong refused visas to three Chinese women delegates to an Indonesian women's congress; they returned to Beijing and filed a report with the WIDF, which had delegated them. Organisation of the congress is not named in the text.
Indonesia refuses visas, Chinese women's delegation returns to Beijing (Renmin Ribao, 6 January 1951)
Renmin Ribao, 6 Jan 1951 (p. 4): the Chinese women's delegation (Shen Zijiu, Zeng Ke, Qi Yun) sent for the WIDF to the All-Indonesian Women's Congress could not attend because the Indonesian government refused entry visas despite repeated negotiations with the Indonesian consul in Hong Kong. They reported to WIDF and r
Indonesia refuses visas, Chinese women's delegation returns to Beijing (Renmin Ribao, 6 January 1951)
Renmin Ribao, 6 Jan 1951 (p. 4): the Chinese women's delegation (Shen Zijiu, Zeng Ke, Qi Yun) sent for the WIDF to the All-Indonesian Women's Congress could not attend because the Indonesian government refused entry visas despite repeated negotiations with the Indonesian consul in Hong Kong. They reported to WIDF and r
Results of the Peking Conference go beyond Asia and the Pacific (WIDF, 1952)
WIDF 1952 report on the Peace Conference of Asian and Pacific Countries (Peking, 2 Oct 1952; 367 delegates, 37 countries): speeches by Soong Ching Ling, Monica Felton, Malayan, Korean and American delegates on Korea, germ warfare, women's and children's rights and national independence. Umi Sardjono of Indonesia is lis
ACDWF telegrams for 8 March 1952, including Cai Chang to Gerwis (Renmin Ribao, 6 March 1952)
Renmin Ribao, 6 Mar 1952 (p. 4): All-China Democratic Women's Federation (Cai Chang) telegrams for International Women's Day to the WIDF, Soviet, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, Indian, German and Burmese women's bodies and to the Indonesian Gerwis. The Gerwis message praises Indonesian women's role in the independence s
ACDWF telegrams for 8 March 1952, including Cai Chang to Gerwis (Renmin Ribao, 6 March 1952)
Renmin Ribao, 6 Mar 1952 (p. 4): All-China Democratic Women's Federation (Cai Chang) telegrams for International Women's Day to the WIDF, Soviet, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, Indian, German and Burmese women's bodies and to the Indonesian Gerwis. The Gerwis message praises Indonesian women's role in the independence s
Beijing May Festivals Highlight Communist 'Peace' Campaign in Asia (1952)
State Department intelligence report (27 May 1952) on Beijing's May 1952 festivals and the Asia-Pacific peace conference preparations as part of the communist 'peace' campaign. Mentions the WIDF only as a precedent for earlier Beijing meetings (Nov-Dec 1949); no reference to Indonesia, Gerwis or Gerwani found.
Latest news from Indonesia (April 1953)
News roundup of Antara dispatches, Indische Courant voor Nederland, 18 Apr 1953, p. 4. Relevant: Maasje Siwi of Gerwis left Surabaya for Copenhagen for the WIDF conference; SOBSI and union leaders left for Peking; also 17 October affair follow-up and Chairul Saleh's expulsion from the Netherlands.
FBIS, 20 April 1953: Delegates to Peking (SOBSI delegation, S.K. Trimurti)
FBIS item (20 Apr 1953): MP Tjugito (OCR) and Suharjo, secretary-general of SABDA, left Jakarta as SOBSI delegates to May Day in Peking. S.K. Trimurti left with the SOBSI delegation and would attend the women's congress in Copenhagen (World Congress of Women). Shows Trimurti's travel in the WIDF circuit.
Women from everywhere: many delegations already on their way to Copenhagen
De Waarheid, 20 May 1953, p. 5: preview of the WIDF World Congress of Women in Copenhagen (5-10 June 1953) with delegations from about 80 countries. Notes an Indonesian member on the WIDF preparatory committee and that Indonesian and Australian delegations are already en route; also covers Vietnamese, African, Indian,