Letter from Emmeline Pankhurst urging militants to attend a deputation to Buckingham Palace
18 May 1914
Fol. 1 r.
18 May 1914
Dear Friend,
The 21st of May is very close at and I write to remind you
of the very great importance of the action that you and I, as members
of the deputation, are to take on that day.
The gallant fight that has been made for the past few years, and
especially during the last twelve months, has made the question of
Votes for Women more living and more urgent than any other. It is
now only a handful of politicians who stand between us and victory.
Our deputation will go far to convince them of the futility of re-
sisting our enfranchisement.
The thought of the women who at this very moment are being
tortured by forcible feeding is more than enough to rouse us to
action. Let us bear in mind the fact that in going to Buckingham
Palace we are simply exercising our constitutional right – the only
right which we as voteless women possess.
It is some time now since the names of the deputation were en-
rolled and I think that all of us are glad that the moment for action
has arrived.
Yours sincerely,
Emmeline Pankhurst