The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-03-24
SWITZERLAND

he late foreign news, encourages the idea
that Switzerland, for time at least, is 10 be
allowed to go on in her independent position;
but how long, there is no telling. The last
spark Of freedom on the Continent. is d;sa.
greeable to France, and all of the Monar-
chies, and if it is not extinguished it will not
be their fault. The intelligent London cores
pondent of the Intelligencer says:
We are willing TO believe in Louis Napo-
Icons pacific intentions toward England; but
there are strong reasons TO fear that SwitZer-
land is marked by the French President, as
well as by some of the legitimate despots of
Europe, for spoliation. A requsition has been
made by the French Minister at Berne, TO the
Swiss Government, that such persons as he
might think fit to designate, not being citizens
OF the Confederation, should be Instantly ex-
PEELED from Switzerland. TO this note the
Federal Council returned, on the 9th of Feb
ruary, firm and dig nified refusal. The pre-
parations which had been alre ady commenced
IN France for hostile operations upon the
Swiss frontier were Immediately conducted
with greater vigor. Fresh indications are per
ceptible that France and Austria are acting
together in this matter, and it is highly proba.
BILE that the next move will be the occupation
OF Geneva and Vaud, by the French, and Of
IIclno, by Austrian troops. Prussia has hon.
orably refused TO take any part in this oppres-
SION OF free people, and her influence will
doubtless be employed in conjunction with
that OF England to; avert by remonstrance, if
possible, so serious calamity and so mon
strous an injustice.
The following article was in type for our yes.
terday's paper, butwas unfortunately crowded
out:
FRANCE, AUSTRIA AND SWITZERLAND.
From the London Times
Inc suspicious we have already expressed as to
the pohcy which the governments OF France and
Austria are dspostd, and possibly prepared to
pursue towards the Swiss Confederation under
cover OF a demand for the expulsion of certain
potlcai refugees, age corroborated from day to day
by the information We receive from the continent
mere is great reas pm to apprehend that positive
arrangement, and perhaps secret convention, has
been concluded betGeen the two powers on the
terms proposed by austria to France in the month
OF NoVembtr I last, for the purpose of enforcing
these demands upon the federal government by
military operationst beginning with blockade and
ending with partial Occupation. Had such demands
been limited to mere measures ofprecauton against
individuals suspected OF practices dangerous to
neighoorng governments, there can be little doubt
! that the Swiss would have continued as they have
already done, to promote by all the means in their
power, the removal of a class of persons to whom
tits honorable nor useful 20 afford asylum
| in the heart of Europe. But the notes lately ad.
60 much further They are derogatory and almost
insulting to the Independence Of Switzerland
They imply deni,l of the rights ofneutrality and
inviolabty guarar teed to the Helvetic Confedera-
ton by the act Of the Goth November, 1915. They
assert IN terms wh ch can hardly be mistaken, the
lnte ntlon OF the Jreat powers TO dictate to their
smaller neighbors conditions Of internal govern
ment based ON ther own political system and con.
senence Ii we are not misinformed, these preten-
sons extraordinary and unwarrantable as they must
be thought, have not been disguised by the French
government when called upon to explain the policy
Itappears pursu.; although, if such doctrines are
allowed to pass tnDo;iced and unresisted, they
Will Lad not only.to the destruction of the indie
pendence OF Switterland, but to suspension of
public law and national freedom in all the weaker
states OF Europe They amount in other terms, to
a repetition of the detestabe msxims which led to
the partition of Poland, and more recently to the
extinction of the independence Of Cracow, with
this important difference AID aggravation-that
heretofore the voice of France has loudly pr Jteted
against such actions gross infactons of the pub
lie law OF Europe. while che is now likely to be-
come party to a similar project.