The concern of those conducting our diplomatic policies in the economic field was always only that of securing supplies, never collaboration motivated by greed for money. It is to their credit that the Swiss press nonetheless remained outspoken. These concessions can be criticised. But it should be kept in mind that that period was marked by a threat to the country's existence and continuing uncertainty as to what the future contained. And at the end of the day the critics too have been unable to answer the question whether and how Switzerland could have survived in any other way.
Glorification is out of place.
But so too is disparaging those concerned from a position of safety. However well we understand the difficult circumstances we ought not to close our eyes to the fact that Switzerland too burdened itself with guilt. One has to ask whether here and there people were not over-diligent in their wish to be obliging to the terrible neighbour. Nobody today can know how he himself would have behaved if he had to take into account that his conduct might lead Switzerland to its downfall. The path between reason of state and maintaining the country's' own values was often narrow.