Author Archives: June Edvenson

During these years, the Nobel Committee had its eyes On the world’s unfolding recession, and the effects Of hesitation, aggression, artifice, sophistry and surprise On the lives of millions, dejected, lambasted, unchecked. The League held a disarmament conference in 1932- While Hitler came to power. He demanded recision   Of Versailles’ treaty points of 1920:  theyContinue reading “Pre-war and World War II”

Born in 1862, Butler’s life was long and busy. He taught and became the President of Columbia University. He participated in the pre-WW I Hague Peace Conferences, And helped start the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He was a trusted advisor to Theodore Roosevelt, President, And believed that all wars would eventually cease. He feltContinue reading “1931 – Nicholas Murray Butler”

Addams’ life was a long one and was filled With actively speaking and engendering participation. She travelled the world to set up the clubs that were gristmill For her Women’s International Peace and Freedom association. In person and in her writings, she beseeched the President, Wilson, To stop using democracy as an excuse for foreignContinue reading “1931 – Jane Addams – 2”

Born in 1860, she lost her parents who died young, Leaving her money, so she travelled – to London’s East End, Exposing herself to a center educating the poor, a key, She felt, to social integration, reducing misery. She began Hull House to address these needs in Chicago, And fought against child labor and forContinue reading “1931 – Jane Addams”

Kellogg’s prize was so contentious it was not awarded until ’30, When Nathan Soderblom, a man of the Church, received his. “Many are the roads that must be followed,” said the Committee,  To attain the great goal, “peace among the nations.” This Was Soderblom’s work for much of his church-based life, Which began as aContinue reading “1930 – Nathan Soderblom”

Frank Billings Kellogg was a farm boy turned lawyer, Who rose to work for Theodore Roosevelt in the White House where He was charged with busting up monopoly corporations, And became the President of the American Bar Association. He supported war against Germany and eventually Became U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, And Secretary ofContinue reading “1929 – Frank Billings Kellogg”

Quidde, a German active in political life, Exemplified the reasons he should receive the prize. He was President of the German Peace Society when rife Anti-Semitism and hatred were on a rampant rise. Early, he stood a pistol-duel against anti-Jewish hate, Wrote against German armament build-ups. He dared To write what others would not –Continue reading “1927 – Ludwig Quidde”

Ferdinand Buisson was the oldest to take the prize, by chance, Achieving it for his history of tireless efforts to bring Peace and right settlements between Germany and France. He was influenced early by Kant, that reason was the thing To decide what was best, based on universal principles, And that peace could be broughtContinue reading “1927 – Ferdinand Edouard Buisson”

Stresemann, German, was born into a culture Convinced it was clearly superior to all others. His areas were economics, business and politics. He supported a pre-war build-up of the German war fleet, And that Germany should wage unrelenting war on its enemies, Then found himself in 1919 having to admit That a negotiated peace mightContinue reading “1926 – Gustav Stresemann”

Aristide Briand was French, a Socialist. Popular Issues were class struggle, strikes and workers’ rights. When he became Prime Minister, his karma came full circle, As he forced workers off strike, sent in military, fired many, a fright. He became PM again after the War had begun: He felt France should negotiate peace but didContinue reading “1926 – Aristide Briand”