"despite the difficulties of travel and the fact that only three months' notice had been given the gathering at geneva was more widely representative than any previous meeting. women were present from thirty-six countries. of the twenty-six affiliated with the alliance at the time of the last meeting, in 1913, the auxiliaries of nineteen showed their continued vitality by sending fully accredited delegates to geneva. representatives were also present from the former auxiliaries in austria and germany, who were accorded full membership rights. the russian national president, a fugitive from her country, was unable to come but sent her greetings. the belgian society abstained from taking part and from the polish and portuguese auxiliaries no answer was received.