Evening star., 1915-04-18
CATHEDRAL At LUCERNE.
BY CHARLES M. PEPPER.

BY CHARLES M. PEPPER.
n 7EUTRALITY costs Switzerland
IMll something. There is the inter
ii Nj ruption of trade and industry.
q There is also the maintenance
of very effective army on war footing
But the saving in life and in the pre-
vention of human misery is worth ii thou
sand times what it costs. And some
commerce also is saved.
Switzerland, almost in the center of the
war whiriwind. seeks to maintain an
equilibrium. 1t is vital to her national
life. The frontier, bordering on France.
Germany, Austria and Italy. is Il bayonet
frontier.
The bayonets thus far all have been
pointed outward ready to defend tile
neutrality which for a century the great
powers of Europe have guaranteed. But
in these days guarantees of neutrality by
powers which are themselves at war do
not count for much
SwitZerland'S own guarantee is prepar-
edness for invasion by any of the bellig
erent countries which might seek to
make her neutral territory the basis of
warlike operations
The Swiss people possibly are divided
n their syInpathes- In the German can
-ons the sentiment may be pro-German.
while in the French and Italian cantons
4 may be favorable to the allies, but in
neither case does it show any tendency
70 sacrifice nationality and the mainte-
nance of territorial integrity. Since the
outbreak of the war. all that Switzerland
nas asked has been to be let alone.
The cost of maintaining the modified
army is said to be approximately $780,
a
country of $500. 900 inla bitants to bear,
but it is borne cheerfully in order to
avoid the greater cost of actual partici-
patton in the war.
The indirect cost in the way of inter
rupted commerce and dislocated indus
tries cannot be guessed. Switzerland
suffers. like all neutral countries, and
especially the smaller neutraIs, from
the complete disregard by both sets of
belligerents of the rights of neutrals.
Not being a maritime country, her in
direct loss is probably less than that
of Holland and the Scandinavian coun-
tries.
There is, however, no opportunity to
profit by sales to the belligerents of
food or other supplies. AS to war mu-
nitions. such as might be manufactured
through it. the government in the be-
ginning stepped in and established
complete embargo This was both to
prevent friction with the belligerents
and to provide for eventualities by
keeping at home commodities that
might be needed by the Swiss people
themselves. An absolute prohibition
was laid on the expectation of arms
and ammunition. including explosives
OF all kinds.
SwitZerlands foreign trade, for an
inland country. presents rather impos-
ing figures, which show that she is to
be considered in the equation of world
commerce and in the general disloca-
ton caused by the war.
In ordinary years the foreign COM
uIerce ranges from $685.. 900, 900 to $3.50 :
100000. he imports exceed the ex-
ports in some years by 100000 900
This is because of the large quantities
Of raw material which are import ed
FOR the Swiss industries The actual
balance, however. is little more than
nominal, since vast sums Of money are
left in the country by travellers
The tourist industry. for thai is what
IL is called. is estimated to be worth
s60,0oo,oOo and upward annually. This
includes the returns from the state
railways. as well as the hotels and
boarding houses, and the purchases of
the tourists
The tourist industry was among the