Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 250, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 October 1915 — PATRIOTISM IS FIRST DUTY OF STURDY SWISS [ARTICLE]

PATRIOTISM IS FIRST DUTY OF STURDY SWISS

Many of Them Sympathize With the Allies, but Demand Fair Treatment. STANDS BETWEEN TWO FIRES •4 European Republic Declines to Be Overawed by Powerful Neighbors —Refuses to Btarve or Be Driven Bankrupt—Would Fight for Rlghta. By EDGAR ANSEL MOWRER, (Correspondent of the Chicago News.) Lausanne, Switzerland. —Seignobos, in his “Hlstolre Politique de l’Europe Contemporaine,” begins his chapter on Switzerland as follows: “The interest of Swiss history must not be measured by the size of the country. This little country- holds a very important place in the history of contemporary European Institutions. To whoever desires to understand the evolution of our modern democratic society, this history may be recommended as the most instructive selection of examples of the application of the principle of popular sovereignty.” Foreigners who know Switzerland, with or without having visited it, as a country of tourists, hotels, mountains, picturesque chalets, mountain railroads, glaciers, milk chocolate, SL Gall embroideries, cheese and refuges for revolutionists, may be pleased to know that of £.ll the people of Europe the Swiss have, historically, been the most belligerently tenacious of their independence and that the? are today the people who have gone farthest in the realm of popular government. The "initiative” haß been general since 1848, and the “referendum," considered a most radical, modernist measure, came in about the same time. Proportional representation was adopted by the Italian canton of Ticino as far back as 1891. German Element Is Strong. The Swiss confederation counts today approximately 3,450,000 inhabitants, of whom about 200,000 are Italian by race and language, 750,000 consider themselves French and the remaining 2,500,000 speak German. Thus the German element is by far the strongest numerically and the most important. It can control in federative political matters. The French cantons, with the important centers of Geneva and Lausanne and their excellent newspapers, play intellectually a role somewhat beyond that presumed by their numerical inferiority. The Italian element is relatively insignificant, although one of the most brilliant of the government ministers, Sig. Mofta, comes from the Ticino. So much by the way of prelude to a presentation of Switzerland’s position during the present great war. At the beginning of hostilities the French and Italian cantons manifested a sturdy but inoffensive sympathy for the allies. The German cantons, to the contrary, gave vent to a single strong burst of Germanophilia. I have not taken account ofvthe individuals whose sympathies are always with the Aide uppermost. Today, though by stages so imperceptible that they cannot be traced, the situation has become different. Here in Romansh Switzerland the population is still overwhelmingly proallies. There is little German in the streets or in the stores. As soon as Italy entered the war the Ticinese pronounced for Italy. It is not an exaggeration to say that, notwithstanding the German speaking majority, there are now in the country as many open adherents of the allies as of the Austro-Germans. This means that a large number of persons who speak German favor thef nations of the quadruple alliance, particularly France. Swiss Industry Badly Hurt.

But a new economic problem has appeared and is forcing people to face it squarely. Switzerland, accustomed in time of peace to derive considerable profit from Its fine scenery and its central position, now pays heavily for the latter. A large proportion of the national army has been mobilized at considerable expense and kept under arms since August, 1914. Industry is suffering. The foreigner comes but rarely to the countless hotels, which stand bleak and deserted like.so many gigantic mausoleums. Only a few homeless individuals from foreign parts loiter in the streets—few by comparison with former years. Even

the exiled revolutionary has quit the little country where he for so many years found sanctuary. A few frontier towns are centers of espionage and intrigue. That is all. The sun rises alone over the glaciers’ fair desolation. There are no tourists shivering with cold and delight to welcome his upcoming or to turn away to hurry down the last slope homeward as he sets behind the purple mountains.

The country suffers from the loss of tourists. But most of all It suffers from the bonds and restrictions with which the warring nations, and chiefly those which command the sea, are endeavoring to correct it. During a year the strings have been drawn ever tighter and tighter. Because she lacks a seaport Switzerland can

breathe lam easily even than Holland. Constant disputes are arising relative to contraband, conditional contraband, imports and their final consumer. Is Between Two Fires. The situation finds adequate expression In the words of a contributor to the Gaiette de Lausanne: “Germany and Austria have said to Switzerland: ’We are perfectly willing to deliver you such raw materials as you lack. But you must give us in exchange not money but certain products of which the allies' blockade deprives us and which we need.' The allies object to this, saying to Switzerland: ’From the beginning of the war we have placed our ships and our trains at your service, and, unlike our enemies, we have never thought of imposing compensations in goods upon you. In the future, as in the past, we are quite willing to furnish you with raw materials as well as with foodstuffs. Only, desiring that our blockade be effective, we ask you to give your word not to pass on in any form whatever to our enemies that which we procure for you.’ “Switzerland replies to the allies: ‘I am grateful to you for supplying me with foodstuffs and raw materials without demanding compensation. Masters of the ocean, you have been able to do me thiß service, like good neighbors. Germany and Austria, although blockaded by your fleets, have also done what they could for me. Driven, by need, they asked me to pay them in goods, while continuing to pay you in specie; and 1 have not refused, being myself hard pressed and neutral —that Is, equally friendly to all and unwillingly to Increase difficulties. In the meantime your fears are groundless, for I have taken care formally to forbid the exportation from my territories of a whole series of goods of urgent necessity. And I am always on the watch for smugglers. Needs of Bwiss Industry.

** ‘On the other hand, my industries must live in spite of your war, on account of which I, though perfectlyinnocent, suffer more than you, perhaps, believe. And in order that my industries be not ruined they must be permitted to re-export to all countries the articles manufactured from raw materials furnished by no matter what belligerent. lam neutral of my own free will, but with your approbation. That is why, although I have obligations toward you (and I do not deny them), that you also have a few toward me, of which the first and essential is to let me live.’ ” Here is the situation In a nutshell. The result of pressure from both sidest "but principally from the side of the allies, has been to make the Swiss conscious of their nationality and to start a wave of patriotism. Negotiations are going on to regulate the matters of difference between the little mountain country and its powerful neighbors by establishing a Swiss control of all foreign trade with a view to doing away with chances for cheating. For the people will not listen to propositions from either side offering “compensation” after the war. They want the difficulty done away with now, Immediately. Would Fight for Rights.

The Swiss are aware of their spree. The effect of 35 , ' 1 000 sturdy, wellequipped and trained soldiers thrown into the balance today on either side would be considerable —might be decisive. “We have been much too humble,” men tell me here. “From now on we shall cease to supplicate and begin to demand, courteously but firmly.” “Would you fight?”

“Certainly, if forced to it. We refuse to starve or be driven bankrupt. England and France and Italy must be brought to realize this fact or face the consequences.” “But your personal sympathies, as you have just told me, are with the countries you mention.” “That is true. But you must realize that before we are German, French or Italian we are Swiss. We have our own country to look after. In any but an extreme case an attempt by the German-speaking majority to force the nation into war against the

allies would mean an immediate rupture between us and them and so bring about the ruin of Switzerland., But if the present restrictions, already bad, grow heavier instead of lighter, if the allies cannot be persuaded by our diplomats that although we ask only to live we put our entire strength behind this demand, then, German, French or Italian-speaking though we be, we shall fight side by side like a single man, as we would do tomorrow at the slightest infraction of our territorial rights. And I —well, I should fight too, even against nearly everything in the world I hold dear.”