 When this announcement reached the UK , the NUWSS was divided on the one hand by patriots such as Millicent Fawcett who were devoted to war work and on the other by the signers of the Christmas letter who wished to send peace delegates . However , the majority of the NUWSS were nationalistic more than they were peace @-@ minded . They rejected a resolution favored by internationalists Helen Bright Clark and Margaret Bondfield which would have supported a delegation of women at The Hague . Because of this , women such as Margaret Ashton , Helena Swanwick and Maude Royden resigned from the NUWSS and made plans to attend at The Hague , some 180 women in total . Macmillan was the only internationalist executive of NUWSS who did not resign ; she was away performing relief work . Volunteering near The Hague , Macmillan prepared to join the ex @-@ NUWSS members after the group crossed the English Channel . 
