Predecessor to today’s Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA), the Welsh League of Nations Union (WLNU) was founded in the aftermath of World War 1 to support people Wales-wide in campaigning for Peace and International Cooperation. From Cardiff to Caernarfon, Denbigh to Tenby, the WLNU was part of the fabric of most Welsh communities through the interwar era, with 1,014 community groups and 61,262 members actively involved in the League’s campaigning activities. 390,296 signed the 1923 Women’s Peace Petition to America; 1,025,040 voted in the WLNU-organised 1935 Peace Ballot; WLNU’s Youth Message of Peace & Goodwill continues through Urdd Gobaith Cymru to this day (marking its centenary in 2022); and the Temple of Peace, opened in Nov 1938 as a headquarters ‘befitting one of Wales’ most prominent movements’, continues WLNU’s mission today through the global learning, global action and global partnerships work of WCIA.
Founding of WLNU: Initially proposed by founder David Davies at the August 1918 National Eisteddfod in Neath, the WLNU began life as a ‘regional committee’ of the British League, who on 25th May 1920 organised a first Welsh League conference in Llandrindod Wells. However, this London-centric arrangement ‘failed to rise to the challenge’ for Welsh communities and on 10th January 1922 (the 2nd anniversary of the League’s first sitting in Geneva) WLNU founders David Davies and Rev Gwilym Davies met in Plas Dinam, Llandinam (Powys) to conceive a campaign that would “mobilise the people of Gwalia… every man, woman and child for peace”. Their proposals – for a semi-autonomous Welsh national body affiliated to the British League, but undertaking its own complementary campaigns – were endorsed at a meeting of the Welsh League Committee on 31st January 1922 in Shrewsbury; where David Davies pledged “to endow the Union with funds… to ensure its permanence.” Gwilym Davies was appointed Honorary Director, taking charge of the Welsh LNU office in the first week of February (see Hon Directors Report April 1922), and at Easter 1922 in Llandrindod Wells the first national conference of the Welsh League of Nations Union was held.
The North entrance of Wales’ Temple of Peace and Health proudly retains its WLNU mailbox, an understated reminder of the organisation that was once part of the fabric of every Welsh community: championing the hopes and dreams of a generation for a world without war.
The Interwar Peace Campaigns of WLNU
Under the organising leadership of Rev Gwilym Davies and Chair Annie Hughes-Griffiths, and with the financial support of David Davies of Llandinam and his sisters Gwendoline and Margaret (who supported peace education activities and funded the Union’s offices), the WLNU through the 1920s and 1930s pursued high profile international Peace campaigns that mobilised the Welsh population in support of internationalism, aiming to strengthen institutions of global cooperation such as the League of Nations, International Labour Organisation, and others.
There was a particularly strong focus on leveraging Wales’ connections with America through the ‘American Welsh’ diaspora – the 1923 Women’s Peace Petition to America, the Faith Leaders Memorial of 1925, the Kellogg Pact campaign of 1928 – and US President Roosevelt and Chief Justice Evan Hughes addressed the opening of Wales Temple of Peace in 1938.
View Peacemakers Feature articles: “Man, Mission and Movement: the Welsh League of Nations Union and the Interwar Peace Campaigns of Rev Gwilym Davies” and “The Great and the Good: the Opening of Wales’ Temple of Peace.”
Researching the League: Digitised Records
The Union’s activities can be explored in breadth through the WLNU Annual Reports 1922-45, digitised on People’s Collection Wales and Flickr as part of WCIA’s ‘Wales for Peace’ project over 2016-19. The original booklets – an invaluable resource – can be viewed in both the Temple of Peace Archives in Cardiff, and the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth – where an array of previously accessioned records can be explored in the collections of the WLNU, Gwilym Davies and Lord Davies of Llandinam.
WLNU Annual Reports & Digitised Archive Materials |
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Founding of Welsh League of Nations Union, May 25th 1920: Public Meeting, Llandrindod Wells (+ Executive proposals) 1920s WLNU Founders Correspondence 1922 (March) American Peace Movements Report by David Davies 1922 (April 19) Hon Directors Report 1922 ‘Plan of Campaign’ for local WLNU Branches by Gwilym Davies Youth Message of Peace & Goodwill first broadcast, 29 June 1922 3rd July 1922 1st proposal for Women’s Peace Appeal |
Women’s Peace Appeal Campaign organised Wales-wide from Easter 1923 – feature article and homepage Welsh Women’s Peace Appeal to America – Memorial, Declaration, Chest and records Women’s Campaign County Organisers lists and Signup leaflets Welsh Outlook feature ‘Women of Wales & World Peace‘, Nov 1923 Gregynog Teachers Conferences on International Education founded, hosted annually 1922-1937 by Davies Sisters |
1924 Women’s Peace Delegation to America: Press and Media Cuttings “Annie’s Diary” – WLNU Chair Mrs Peter Hughes-Griffiths’ account of American Peace Tour, Feb-March 1924. Annie’s 1924 Diary Transcription and short film 1924 ‘Welsh Churches and the League of Nations’ Booklet ‘Teachers and World Peace’ Guidance for Schools by WEAC published through LNU ‘Henry Richard – Wales’ Apostle of Peace’ 1924 WLNU Booklet |
American Women’s Response – Carrie Chapman Catt, 1925: Conference on Cause & Cure of War Dec 1925 Faith Leaders Memorial to America, 1926 Report & Account of the ‘Welsh Approach to the Churches in America’ & presentation in Detroit by Gwilym Davies |
North Wales Women’s Peace Pilgrimage for ‘Law not War’, May 1926. ‘International Education in Schools of Wales & Monmouthshire‘: The Welsh Education Advisory Committee 1922-26 |
1926-19275th Annual Conference Whit Week 1926 @ Llandrindod Wells |
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June 29-July 3 1926: League of Nations Federation Int’l Congress, Aberystwyth: Souvenir Delegates Guide delegate list & Programme of Meetings, June 29-July 3 1926. WLNU branches and membership reach peak. ‘Daffodil Days‘ feature article |
Wales’ WW1 Book of Remembrance unveiled alongside opening of Welsh War Memorial by Prince of Wales (June 12 1928) View / Search the Names; Images of Book & Crypt 1928 Conference Swansea launched ILO Memorial campaign, May 1928 Education – launch of WLNU Geneva Scholarships Scheme for secondary schools. ‘Kellogg Pact’ signed in Paris, Aug 27 1928 following long campaign |
March 11 1929, ILO Memorial and bust of Robert Owen presented from people of Wales to Int’l Labour Organisation in Geneva David Davies commissions design of Temple of Peace to architect Percy Thomas – feature. Initially proposed in 1919 for Devonshire House, London, 1929 Architects Report proposes World Peace Manifesto produced and candidates canvassed for July 1929 general election 1929 Conference in Wrexham (May) |
Stock Market crash and onset of Great Depression. 10th Anniversary of LoN – Wales campaign includes ‘League of Nations Week‘ May 12-18 1930. Public Festivals on theme ‘Capturing the Castles for Peace‘ started from Harlech Castle (May 10), Welsh Peace Exhibition in the Hague with Dutch LNUS. |
WLNU Women’s Advisory Committee (WAC) established – see records of meetings. Manchuria Crisis – Japanese invasion of China – undermines credibility of League of Nations. WLNU groups campaign for governments to honour their post-WW1 Covenant commitments (they don’t) |
1931-3210th Annual Conference June 1931 @ Cory Hall, Cardiff |
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Peerage to Lord David Davies for his peace advocacy since WW1 (following retirement as an MP). Bronze Bust and Memorial presented by Sir Goscombe John in 1935 (now displayed in Hall of Nations). |
Equity Tribunal Campaign 2nd edition of ‘Teachers and World Peace’ Guidance for Schools |
1935 Peace Ballot Campaign – Feature article 1935 Peace Ballot – Briefing for Households; Canvassers Briefing; Bulletin 2, Jan 1935; Bulletin 3, Feb 1935; Bulletin 4, March 1935; Bulletin 5, April 1935; Bulletin 6, June 1935; Bulletin 7 / ONWARD, Oct 1935; YMLAEN / ONWARD Bulletin, May 1936 ABYSSINIA CRISIS (Italian invasion of Ethiopia) fatally undermines League of Nations; WLNU groups campaign for govts to honour LoN Covenant. |
1936 Aberystwyth Peace Pageant – WLNU Archives album presented to Gwilym Davies | |
1936-3715th Annual Conference June 1936 @ Barry |
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Temple Foundation Stone ceremony, April 1937 starts construction on Wales’ Temple of Peace. |
Opening of Wales Temple of Peace: ‘The Great and the Good’ feature article. Opening Day archives and organisational records; speeches Temple opening Media Coverage; Press Pack & Photos; Order of Service; Western Mail ‘Temple Opening’ Supplement 23 Nov 1938 Temple of Peace 1938 World Maps of League of Nations mandates |
Outbreak of WW2; suspension of WLNU activities Oct 1939, ‘Lord Davies’ last mission’ to Germany – account by Granville Fletcher |
Temple of Peace open throughout war as place of pilgrimage for WW1 Book of Remembrance, and services on ‘Remembering for Peace’ | WLNU and WEAC (through Gwilym Davies) invited by British & US Governments to develop blueprint proposals for UNESCO |
1941-42Annual Conferences suspended through WW2 |
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| Temple & Book of Remembrance open for public pilgrimages 11-12am daily (6,000 / yr), + Services of Dedication |
Temple & Book of Remembrance open for public pilgrimages 11-12am daily (6,000 / yr), + Services of Dedication Education C’tee work continued – scholarships, CEWC development, UNESCO proposals. Passing of Mrs Peter (Annie) Hughes Griffiths, WLNU ex-Chair / President and Women’s Committee head. |
Passing of David Davies on June 16 1944, founder and sponsor of WLNU. Lord Davies’ Memorial Service, Temple of Peace, June 27 1944 |
End of WW2 – VE Day Service at Temple of Peace, May 13th 1945 WLNU becomes United Nations Assoc (UNA) Wales, with educational activities separately constituted to CEWC (Council for Education & World Citizenship) Inaugural meeting of UNA Wales, Oct 1945 |
Start of International Youth Service (IYS) and CEWC, the Council for Education in World Citizenship First UNA Wales Conference in Wrexham, 30-31 May 1947. UNA Wales Bulletin No. 1, April 1949 |
In 2021, the digitised archives of the League of Nations in Geneva will also become publicly available, following a 5 year, £25m privately funded heritage project.
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WLNU Branch Activities
A typical ‘Plan of Campaign’ developed by Gwilym Davies with local branches (1922-23 programme for Newport branch).
Grassroots community participation was at the fore of the Welsh League’s approach, with a comprehensive programme of activities led by local branches and activists. An overview can be gained from the 1922 ‘Plan of Campaign’ for local WLNU Branches drafted by Gwilym Davies. Activities included:
- Public meetings and debates on topical issues of current international affairs.
- ‘Lantern Lectures’ (slide shows) on international issues.
- Fundraising for the work of the Welsh League, in particular through organising annual Daffodil Days for Peace (by Swansea University History student Rob Laker, as part of a heritage placement with WCIA in 2019).
- Petitions and campaigns to sway public / political opinion on peace issues such as the Arms Trade, and ‘Law not War’.
- Marches and Peace Pilgrimages, such as the North Wales Women’s Peace Pilgrimage of 1926.
- Eisteddfod stalls
- School competitions including the Geneva Scholarship Scheme, Peace Essays and Exams, and International Summer School scholarships – many continued after WW2 under CEWC.
WLNU Membership 1920s-1930s
The table below summarises membership figures from interwar WLNU Reports (with thanks to Rob Laker and Stuart Booker, Swansea University). Years of particularly high membership are spotlighted in bold, with a peak of 61,262 in 1930 (just prior to the Great Depression). Despite a drop in paid memberships the following year, the highest number of branches in Wales – 1,014 – was recorded in 1931-2. The peak in junior branches, at over 302 across Wales, was to come in 1938. Further explanation of the figures is below.
Year |
1923 |
1924 |
1925 |
1926 |
1927 |
1928 |
1929 |
1930 |
1931-32 |
| Adult Membership | 18,110 | 26,345 | 31,299 | 34,999 | 36,689 | 39,223 | 41,822 |
43,050 |
14,051 |
| Junior Membership | 2,686 | 4,247 | 6,080 | 9,801 | 10,653 | 11,727 | 14,784 |
18,212 |
12,749 |
| Total Membership | 20,796 | 30,592 | 37,379 | 44,800 | 47,342 | 50,950 | 56,606 |
61,262 |
26,800 |
| Community Branches | 280 | 415 | 571 | 652 | 700 | 770 |
794 |
764 | 770 |
| Junior Branches | 20 | 39 | 77 | 133 | 149 | 176 | 202 | 233 | 244 |
| Total Branches | 300 | 454 | 648 | 785 | 849 | 946 | 996 | 997 |
1,014 |
Year |
1933 |
1934 |
1935 |
1936 |
1937 |
1938 |
1939 |
1940 |
1941 |
| Adult Membership | 15,146 | 13,630 | 13,537 | 15,675 | 18,255 | 12,745 | 13,018 | 7,828 | 4,635 |
| Junior Membership | 9,264 | 9.026 | 9,290 | 6,780 | 9,216 | 3,881 | 2,342 | ||
| Total Membership | 24,410 | 13,630 | 13,537 | 24,701 |
27,545 |
19,525 | 22,234 | 11,709 | 6,977 |
| Community Branches | 621 | 479 | 533 | 538 | 498 | ||||
| Junior Branches | 279 | 298 | 200 |
302 |
227 | ||||
| Total Branches | 900 | 777 | 733 | 840 | 725 |
Whilst impressive by any measure, these figures demonstrate changes that reflect the changing world in which the League of Nations Union was operating:
- In 1930-31, the ‘apparent dip’ in membership was a change in presentation: due to falling income, the Welsh League Council decided to measure paid memberships. It will be noted that the highest number of active local branches is the same year – suggesting voluntary and campaigner activity remained high.
- As the Great Depression of 1930-31 took effect, this had 2 impacts: a sharp decrease in paid memberships, reflecting the unemployment and austerity situation; and some loss of faith in the League of Nations itself following the Manchuria Crisis.
- Further reorganisation in 1934, and some presentational variations, result in some gaps in figures.
- Highest paid members was in 1937, as Wales’ Temple of Peace was under construction – and as people’s concerns around peace escalated in the leadup to WW2.
- With the outbreak of WW2, the Welsh League partially suspended work. Some figures are offered – though these may not represent similar measures of activity.
- Junior Membership / WLNU Branches largely operated out of individual schools Wales-wide. It has been queried whether there was overlap with the Urdd Youth movements local Aelwyd’s or youth branches / chapters, but it seems fairly clear from WLNU Archives that Junior branches were schools based ‘societies’.
Fundraising and ‘Daffodil Days’
The operating funds of the Welsh League were generated through widespread Fundraising by Branches, through organising annual Daffodil Days for Peace (explored by Swansea University History student Rob Laker).
In 1927, branches Wales-wide contributed £1,507 12s 11d – approx. £93,000 today – towards the general running costs of the Welsh League, as well as funding their own local campaigns and activities.
View Google Map of Communities who organised Daffodil Days between 1925-39, collated by Rob Laker. Zoom, or click on pins, to find specific communities.
Online Resources & References
- Wikipedia – League of Nations Union (UK)
“To Strive for a World of Justice”
Community, Internationalism and the Campaign for Peace in Interwar Wales – Llafur Talk, Oct 2020
In the aftermath of the First World War, Welsh communities took concerted action in the name of internationalism, peace and equality with increasing frequency and commitment. In this Llafur online event, join us and our guests Craig Owen, Rob Laker, and Emma West, to explore these themes in an interwar context – from the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition of 1923, to the Peace Ballot of 1935 and the opening of the Temple of Peace in 1938. (view other Llafur Event Recordings).
