The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-06 00:00:00

THE VALLEY OF TEE DAPPES.

The following article from the Tenzps throws
some further light on the circumstances connected
with the original settlement—or, more correctly,
non-settlement—of the question bearing on the
little strip of territory now in dispute :
" S tvitzerland, which was in possession of the
valley before the Revolution, ceded it in 1802,
but had it restored to her in 1814, at the time of
the first treaty of Paris. The general act of the
treaties of Vicuna ratified the right of Switzer-
land in Art. 75 by these words—'The Valley of
the Dappea having formed part of the canton of
Vaud, is restored to it.' The second treaty of
Paris constrained France to make fresh sacrifices.
As a part of them benefited Switzerland, the four
Great Courts consented to support the pretensions
of the French Government to the Valley of Dappes,
and by a collective note of the 19th November,
1815, they declared them well-founded, in consi-
deration of much more important cessions of ter-
ritory made by France to the Confederation. How-
ever, adds the note, the Swiss Envoy in Paris not
being authorised to consent to this retrocession, it
could not be inserted in the treaty of peace; but the
Powers engaged to use their influence with Switzer-
land to obtain her consent, and they interfered, but
without success, three years after. Thus,on the one
side, Switzerland has in her favour the formal right
and the letter of treaties, and on the other France has
the collective declaration of the great Powers. The
latter, which had just regulated the territoral
state of the whole of Europe had a right to extend
their high jurisdiction over this strip of land, par-
ticularly after having in 1814 and 1815 enriched
Switzerland with the spoils of France. The con-
sent of Switzerland remained, it is true, reserved,
but in 1815 the clause was at least singular,
and can only be explained by the favour which
Switzerland enjoyed with the allied Powers
on account of her not very glorious expedition
into Franche-Comte, undertaken under the aus-
pices of some petty Swiss Patricians, brought by
events to the momentary direction of affairs. Such
is the position as regards right. As to fact, France,
grounding her claim on the recognition of her
right by the great Powers, has never allowed
Switzerland to exercise full sovereignty, and
Switzerland on her side has constantly reserved
her rights. Such a state of things afforded
ample matter for negotiations, and they have
not been wanting. They have been going
on since 1816 on the subject of this strip
of road, and always without coming to any-
thing. The last negotiations opened in 1858 ap-
peared for a moment to have more chance of sue-
' cess than the preceding ones, and the offers made
by the French Government were
According to the arrangement p
rmoposotsereda, sFonraabnleee.
would
her
co
mhhmayvn ent
necessary to secure
reoivaded,
whichthe part of the valley tra-
versedrceeactions between two parts of her ter-
ritory, and Switzerland would have preserved the
two slopes of the Jura, that is to say, the Dole,
which forms for her an excellent frontier. France,
moreover, offered an indemnity, of 350,000 fr. for
the portion of territory ceded. The Government of
Vaud, which is more particularly interested since
the Valley of the Dappes forms part of that Can-
ton, would have been disposed to settle the inter-
minable question in conformity with the wishes of
France, but the Federal Council, in its report to
the Federal Assembly in December, 1859, recom-
mended the rejection of the French propositions
for reasons of strategical interest."

The Opinion Nationale, after referring to the
document just quoted, observes :
" It was impossible to recognise more formally'
the rights of France to the Valley of Dappes. Un-
fortunately, the of the Powers has main-
tained this lamentable statu quo till the preseet
time. The different Governments which have suc-
ceeded each other in France have made vain efforts
to arrive at a definitive solution, especially in 1828
and in 1835. The Imperial Cabinet made proposals
to Switzerland in 1858, but was not more success-
ful than its predecessors."

Lieutenant
have arrived at their residence in
Dover. Bt-reP ot from Moreton $ ,
Hall Cheshire. The gallant
Lieutenant-General Sir James Chatterton, Bart.,
and Lady Chattertou
.
3?
his usual health. They will leave town
orficer is not 1
shortly for Brighton.
Sir Culling Eardley has arrived at Claridge's
Hotel, from Bedwell Park, Herts.
Major-General,srandii4 Mrs.bbom Se,tuuaaurtts. have arrived
at
FarrancVs hotel