The sun., 1900-12-23
ron SWISS NATIONAL DHpEyex.
The Hepubiic Ercoprssed q. "a tp Vutats v
the Good rish, ~ IN. Ro.rs.

foSDoS boo ~ Douhtleas tho cahlo has
already Informed you that tho Svis. Com
federation hna declined 10 rntify by 'o yot'
~ II. legislative bodies that rnrt of thc roaulr.
tious ~ III" Hague Convention which np-
poarod 80 f.iior or curt1il M" frht of uuti'"s
to resort 20 th" loy"n on mns.o Tor the d"''u''
NJ hon" aud country The Swi.. people nav"
In fact boon greatly encouraged iu r'r 'rd
~ their matt ipnal futur" bv tho Iour struggle
IN South Africa between u great Power lnd
two small and poor republic, and rcy nr"
strenuously resolved e. incrct," in every
possible way their powers of rc-i-t1uc' to
aggression by the powerful states hy which
H." Confederation Is absolutely surrounded
II Ia In pursuance Of thls resolution that
the levAe en- masss will b" retained IN n .
most rigorous form. and that the work Of
Matchmaking the Swiss railways is az this
moment being pushed with all po-sihlc speed
As recently a. last Wednesday Ia" National
Council at Berne discussed the scheme Of
taking over the Central Railway tOmpany's
system, and Ultimately ratified, by lot votes
TO 3, the agreement between the Federal
Council and the company Ibis agreement
has already been approved by thc stock
holders assembled in general meeting, by
the Executive Board OF Federal Railways,
by the Federal Council and by the National
Council All that remains TO complete the
transfer 20 the nation Is the sanction OF the
Council OF States. and this VIII be surely
given during the present session
That Will complete the first stage In the
acquisition by the State Of the hve great rail-
way systems Of Switzerland. apolicy which
was authorized by the Swiss people In ref
ersndum by an overwhelming majority.
1t Is hoped that the stockholders OF tho vari-
f.NN, trh -
come TO terms with the Government without
unnecessary delay. II the parties con-
oerned are unable TO agree as 10 price. the
matter will have TO be taken before the Fed
eral Court OF Appeal; but present indications
point to an amioable arrangement In each
case so that 1t is probable that by the end OF
1901 all the Swiss railways will be the property
OF the State. with the sole exception OF the
famous St Gothard line. which. owing TO
various causes and considerations. cannot be
acquired before 1909.
Africa are being prepared for the lnforms..
O1 and guidance sns OF The
extremely probable that next year the Con-
federation will spend large sums OF money,
large that is TO cay for such very frugal
people in improving the nauona srmiephish,s ishs ns
experience gained from Beers and Britons,
IN the meantime there is a growing feeling M
oumbent upon the Confederation TO mind its
own business This has been shown this
week by the strenuous eforts that have been
made to prevent a debate In Parliament upon
the wrongs Of the Boers. Deputy Manzonii
despite tho Temonstrances Of the federai
day a motion In favor Of Swiss intervention
In the struggle in South Africa. To meet and
the Government have tabled a resolution
questioning the competence OF Parliament TO
disouss Manzoni's motion. and setting forth
the duty Of Switzerland 10 preserve the strict
est neutrality. This resolution VIII be brought
before the Rational Council shortly. II VIII
be supported by the Federal C9uncil. ana
more will be heard of the Manzoni motion.