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.
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
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
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
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.
FBIS, 27 September 1954: Indonesian delegates honored (Peking)
FBIS-monitored Xinhua item (27 Sep 1954): the Indonesian delegation and Indonesian women's delegation were entertained in Peking by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and the All-China Democratic Women's Federation. Shih Liang hailed Chinese-Indonesian women's friendship; Madam Poedjoboentoro spoke for t
Indonesian delegations in China, including a women's delegation
Short De Nieuwsgier report (30 Sept 1954, p. 2) on the arrival in Peking of an Indonesian delegation and a separate women's delegation, invited by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and the All-China Democratic Women's Federation. Mrs. S. Pudjobuntoro spoke for the women's delegation; Gerwani is not name
Harian Rakjat, 21 September 1955, p. 4
Harian Rakjat, 21 September 1955, hlm. 4. Feature on collective newspaper-reading groups among housewives in China, where wives learn to read and settle quarrels; context for women and literacy in the PKI press.
WIDF Council (Peking, 24-30 April 1956) 'Appeal to the Women of Asia and Africa', with a side item on a European girls' conference in Paris. The appeal salutes anticolonial struggles, welcomes the Bandung principles, and opposes the Baghdad and SEATO pacts and nuclear tests. Indonesia and Gerwani are not named.
FBIS, 7 March 1956: Greetings messages (International Women's Day, Peking)
FBIS-monitored Xinhua report (7 Mar 1956): a Peking women's rally on the eve of International Women's Day sent greetings to WIDF; the All-China Democratic Women's Federation sent messages to women's groups across Asia and Africa. Includes a message to Wanita Indonesia (Indonesian Women's Congress and the Indonesian Wom
Report on a visit to Indonesia, Song Qingling (Renmin Ribao, 27 September 1956)
Renmin Ribao, 27 Sep 1956, p. 6: Song Qingling's report to the NPC Standing Committee on her ten-day visit to Indonesia (14-23 Aug 1956): Jakarta, Bogor, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Bali, with Sukarno, Hatta and overseas Chinese. She meets Kowani-led women's leaders in Jakarta (16 Aug) and answers questions on Chinese women's
Report on a visit to Indonesia, Song Qingling (Renmin Ribao, 27 September 1956)
Renmin Ribao, 27 Sep 1956, p. 6: Song Qingling's report to the NPC Standing Committee on her ten-day visit to Indonesia (14-23 Aug 1956): Jakarta, Bogor, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Bali, with Sukarno, Hatta and overseas Chinese. She meets Kowani-led women's leaders in Jakarta (16 Aug) and answers questions on Chinese women's
FBIS, 28 September 1956: Indonesian women's delegation (to China)
FBIS item (28 Sep 1956): a six-member Indonesian women's delegation led by Mrs Roeslan Abdulgani, wife of the foreign minister, reached Hong Kong and Singapore en route to Peking, invited by the Chinese Government to the National Day celebrations and to stay until 10 October. Context for official women's delegations to
FBIS, 15 October 1956: Departure for Rangoon (Sukarno leaves China)
FBIS-monitored Xinhua item (15 Oct 1956): Sukarno and party left Kunming for Rangoon at the end of his China visit; the Indonesian women's delegation to China left for home with him. Over 10,000 people saw him off; he thanked the Chinese government and people. Background context for the women's delegation.
China's growing friendly exchanges with women of other countries (Renmin Ribao, 4 March 1957)
Renmin Ribao, 4 Mar 1957, p. 4 (Xinhua): survey of Chinese women's 1956 exchanges with women of 58 countries, including hosting the WIDF Council in Beijing. An Indonesian women's delegation led by Mrs Abdulgani is listed among visitors. Gerwani is not named.
China's growing friendly exchanges with women of other countries (Renmin Ribao, 4 March 1957)
Renmin Ribao, 4 Mar 1957, p. 4 (Xinhua): survey of Chinese women's 1956 exchanges with women of 58 countries, including hosting the WIDF Council in Beijing. An Indonesian women's delegation led by Mrs Abdulgani is listed among visitors. Gerwani is not named.
FBIS, 19 September 1958: Foreign reportage, comment (Taiwan Strait support)
FBIS editorial report (19 Sep 1958) on foreign items carried by Xinhua on 18 Sept supporting China in the Taiwan Strait crisis (TASS and Soviet commentary, US critics, Poland, Oman, Australia, Burma, German unionists). One clause notes support from 'an Indonesian women's organization' and Indonesian public figures; no
FBIS, 28 October 1958: Indonesians laud CPR construction gains
FBIS-monitored Xinhua item (28 Oct 1958; header misdates 1953): Indonesian political figures returning from China praised China's construction, communes and the Great Leap Forward. Includes Mme Kartowijono, Perwari secretary-general, praising communes' labour enthusiasm, food, clothing and education; Anwar Tjokroaminot
FBIS, 28 March 1959: Aidit broadcast speech (farewell to the Chinese people)
FBIS-monitored Xinhua text (28 Mar 1959) of D.N. Aidit's farewell broadcast to the Chinese people after a fortnight's PKI delegation visit. He praises the Great Leap and people's communes, defends them against 'imperialist lies', and argues peasant women welcome communal dining and nurseries because 'a smoky kitchen is
Record of Mao Zedong and Jiang Qing's Reception of Hartini Sukarno, 29 Sep 1962
Chinese Foreign Ministry record (not reviewed by Mao) of Mao Zedong and Jiang Qing receiving Hartini Sukarno in Beijing, 29 Sept 1962, with Deng Yingchao, Wang Guangmei, Chen Yi and Ambassador Sukarni present (Wilson Center; trans. David Cowhig). Topics: assassination attempts on Sukarno, West Irian settlement, Nasakom
Women of the PRC Also Skilled at Working in Mines (photo)
Api Kartini (1963) photograph caption only: 'Women of the PRC are also skilled at working inside mines'. No further text survives.