The Temple of Peace: 100 years of Welsh Internationalism

The Davies' Legacy

David Davies (1880-1944) was a Welsh MP and philanthropist whose experiences as a soldier during World War One greatly influenced his lifelong cause of championing peace. Lord David Davies of Llandinam - Wikipedia

Davies was born into a family steeped in philanthropy. His grandfather, also David Davies, was a wealthy industrialist and philanthropist and his sisters Gwendoline and Margaret became leading patrons of the arts in Wales. As WW1 broke out, the Davies sisters played a lead role in organising sanctuary for over 4,000 Belgian refugees fleeing the front.

As a soldier during the Great War - as well as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Prime Minister David Lloyd George - Davies was horrified by the carnage and waste which he witnessed. He believed that war could be avoided, if its causes were properly understood, and upon his return from the continent focused his efforts into championing the cause of peace. He spearheaded the search for stable international order through the League of Nations and the League of Nations Union, and wanted to see the establishment of a strong International Police force so that international agreement and peace could be maintained.

Dept of International Politics, Aberystwyth University 

In 1918, Davies established a new academic discipline, creating the world’s first department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University. The first Chair in the discipline was endowed by Davies in honour of the American president Woodrow Wilson, the man who pioneered the concept of the League of Nations, of which Davies was amongst its chief advocates. Davies was one of the founders of the League of Nations Union and the foremost proponent of the creation of an international police force to help regulate world order. He later founded the New Commonwealth Society in order to advance his vision of international law and order. The spirit of the Society is still very much alive in the form of the David Davies Memorial Institute, which through leading academic scholarship continues to honour the legacy of its founder.

Wales' Temple of Peace and Health

  The Temple of Peace and Health (view on Wikipedia) was the brainchild of David Davies, 1st Baron Davies, and was conceived to serve two purposes. The first was to provide a home for the King Edward VII Welsh National Memorial Association, a voluntary organisation dedicated to the prevention, treatment and eradication of tuberculosis, which had been founded by Lord Davies in 1910. Davies was also the founding president of the Welsh National Council of the League of Nations Union, and in 1934 he pledged £58,000 towards the erection of a building to house the two organisations (with £12,000 coming from the Memorial Association). Lord Davies wished for the Temple of Peace and Health to be "a memorial to those gallant men from all nations who gave their lives in the war that was to end war" - and so it was dedicated to the memory of those who laid down their lives in that war. The foundation stone was laid by Lord Halifax, the Lord Privy Seal, in April 1937. 

• Temple of Peace Opening Programme on People's Collection Wales
  
• 'A New Mecca': Report about the Opening of the Temple of Peace on People's Collection Wales

The Temple was opened on 23 November 1938 by Mrs Minnie James of Dowlais, who had lost 3 sons in the First World War and represented the war-bereaved mothers of Wales. She was accompanied by women from across the commonwealth who since WW1 had united in campaigning for peace. View 'A New Mecca' - an account of the Opening of the Temple of Peace; view a short digital story about the Temple opening. Tragically, Lord Davies, after a ceremonial x-ray in one of the fleet of vans he had provided to carry out mass radiography against TB, was found to be suffering from a terminal disease and died on 16 June 1944 (view dedication from the LoN Union). Shortly before the end of WW2 and the formation of the United Nations, this would lead to the creation of many of the bodies of international cooperation and security Davies had spent his life advocating for. Many would be shaped by Welshmen who had been inspired by Davies' vision.

League of Nations and International Affairs

The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organisation founded on 10 January 1920 as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. The aims of the LoN were supported by civil society associations worldwide, and as a nation grappled with the grief of losing a whole generation of young men and women from WW1, the Welsh League of Nations Union was particularly active (view Cardiff University Collections references), with 280 local branches by 1922 which by 1926 had grown to 652.  

In 1926, Wales hosted the International Peace Congress itself in Aberystwyth, stepping in at short notice following the collapse of plans to host in Dresden. The 90th anniversary of this incredible gathering - placing Wales at centre stage of world peace talks - was marked in Summer 2016 with a League of Nations Exhibition in Aberystwyth University's Hugh Owen Library, supported by Wales for Peace. Annual 'Gregynog Peace Conferences' were held from 1922 to 1939, organised by prominent peace builder Gwilym Davies. Even by 1935, with WW2 looming on the horizon, a 'Peace Ballot' on Disarmament garnered over 85% public support. Following WW2, Welsh proposals for an international education organisation heavily influenced the creation of UNESCO, the UN's education, scientific and cultural organisation.

Welsh Education Advisory Committee, 1922-39

The Welsh Education Advisory Committee (view on Flickr) was established through the Davies' sisters and the Gregynog Press in 1922, to advance the teaching of peace and the principles of the League of Nations in schools throughout Wales. It was the first such teachers' initiative in the world, produced a 'Teachers and World Peace' Manifesto ahead of the 1929 General Election, and was a forerunner of peace education and global citizenship today - but little is as yet known about the WEAC's work, even though Welsh proposals for an international education organisation are said to have heavily influenced the creation of UNESCO, the UN's education, scientific and cultural organisation, in the 1940-50s . Could you help us uncover this hidden history further? WCIA hope that by uncovering and understanding more about how previous generations of teachers developed such a highly regarded peace education programme, we might inspire teachers today seeking to tackle current affairs in the classroom through our developing Peace Schools programme.     

Uniting Nations: Welsh Peacebuilders shaping the UN

A number of prominent Welsh peace builders played instrumental roles in founding organs of the United Nations from 1946 onwards that endure in international affairs to the modern day. WCIA are seeking volunteers and community groups who can help us draw together more histories around the contribution of Welsh figures to United Nations initiatives worldwide, from 1946 to the present - from 'prominent figureheads' to ordinary humanitarian and development workers on the ground.  

Llangollen International Eisteddfod: 70 years of Peace Heritage, 1947 - 2017

Following the end of World War 2 in 1946, Welsh composer Gwynn Williams and British Council official Harold tudor set about organising Wales' first international festival of music and culture, with a mission to 'heal the effects of war' and promote intercultural celebration. Today it has grown to become a truly global event, attracting 5,000 performers a year from 50 countries. More...

Temple Tours: Exploring Wales' Peace Heritage

WW1 War Memorial, Alexandra Gardens	The Crypt and the WW1 Book of Remembrance	The 'Hall of Nations'	Council Chamber & Davies' Library	Wales' Garden of Peace

Wales' Garden of Peace: Remembering Wales' Peacebuilders

International Solidarity and Campaigning Links

Throughout the last 100 years, individuals and local communities throughout Wales have played a leading role in some of the defining movements of our time, with campaigns calling for human rights, peace, justice and prosperity. Behind each, a treasure trove of hidden histories of peace builders await to be explored; from the 'taster links' below, we would love to hear from volunteers or contributors who can help us to tell this important part of Wales' peace building story. Email walesforpeace@wcia.org.uk.  

• Cymdeithas y Cymod / Fellowship of Reconciliation - 1914 to present
• Spanish Civil War, 1936-9: 'Wise & Foollish Dreamers' Project (HLF / WCIA Project 2012) + BBC Article
• Paul Robeson, the Welsh Miners Unions and the Civil Rights Movement + BBC Broadcast
• CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) Cymru - 1958 to present. See local groups in Wales supporting CND; View 'Heddwch' magazine digitisations and other resources on People's Collection; view CND history on Wikipedia; find out about National Library CND archives; view Bradford Peace Museum banners collection; view CND / Indymedia article on Armed Forces Day 2015, Colwyn Bay; view July 7th 2017 UN Nuclear Arms Treaty news.
  
• Wales Anti-Apartheid Movement - 1981 to 1994. Archives; Book.
• Jubilee 2000 Wales
• Cynefin y Werin Peace and Justice Network, 2001-9.
• Stop the War Wales (2002)
• Make Poverty History in Wales (2005)

International Volunteering, Education and Country Links

Wales has a remarkable story to tell of direct, 'people to people' connections with communities across the world - everyday ambassadors, volunteers young and old, skills and educational exchange programmes, community development projects and facilitating cooperation between Wales and the World. Behind each, a treasure trove of hidden histories of peace builders await to be explored - WCIA would love to hear from volunteers or contributors who can help us to tell this important part of Wales' peace building story. Email walesforpeace@wcia.org.uk.

• Wales Somaliland Links (1870 to present)
• Wales Congo Links (1885 onwards)
• Llangollen International Eisteddfod (1946 to present)
• Wales' European Town Twinning Movement, post WW2
• UNA International Service Work Camps (post-WW2) - view Robert Davies' Diary 
• Cymru Ariannin (Argentina - 1939 to present) and Y Wladfa Patagonia 150, 150th Anniversary of Wales' only 'colony'.
• UNA Exchange (1973 to present)
• Dolen Cymru Wales Lesotho Link (1985 to present)
• Cymru Cuba (1982 to present)
• Wales Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign (1986 to present)
• Wales Haiti (2000)
• Croeso Calcutta Christian Aid / Urdd Wales India Exchange programme (2001-4) 
• Cyfanfyd - Development Education Association for Wales (1991-2013)
• WAGE - Wales Alliance for Global Education (2015 onwards)
• WCVA Welsh Civil Society Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Task Force (2001 - 2014)
• Wales for Africa Welsh Government and civil society programme (2004 to present)
• Wales Africa Community Links (2006-2015)
• Size of Wales (2010 to present)

The Welsh Centre for International Affairs: Wales in the World Today

The Welsh League of Nations Union from 1918 to 1945 was widely supported, though financially vulnerable; and its successor after the Second World War, the United Nations Association (UNA) Wales, fared little better. Supporters of work at the Temple of Peace were concerned that something had to be done, as UNA Wales was short on members and money. It had difficulty in providing the leadership needed for Wales’ response to major campaigns, such as International Co-operation Year in 1965 and International Human Rights Year in 1968. The idea came about to form a ‘Welsh Centre for International Affairs’.

In 1968 a Western Mail editorial commented that this idea was “exciting and interesting” and would “encourage Welshmen to look beyond the confines of Wales and Britain to extend their knowledge and understanding of the rest of the world”. In 1970 a proposal to form the WCIA was formally adopted by a Committee set up by the then Secretary of State for Wales, George Thomas MP (later Viscount Tonypandy), to mark the 25th anniversary of the UN. The organisations on that 25th anniversary committee – the Welsh Office, local authorities, the University of Wales and colleges of education, MPs, trade unionists, industrialists, the churches, political parties the media and voluntary organisations – became the WCIA’s Standing Conference, thereby also extending the range of organisations associated with the Temple of Peace.

The WCIA was officially opened on 11 October 1973 by Lady Tweedsmuir, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Hywel Francis, MP for Aberavon, once said in the House of Commons: “The Welsh Centre for International Affairs… has for decades played a vital role. Its quiet, educational voice of tolerance and reason needs to be listened to and valued in Wales and beyond. It deserves our full support and we should be proud of its work.”