Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1915-02-11
SWITZERLAND FEELS PINCH OF
EMBARGO.

IbNAllAltNO.
The Swiss, like other neutral ma
tions, are growing restive under Eng
lish interference with neutral trade.
OF late England has placed increas-
ing restrictions in the way of having
WOOL cotton, grain OF coal imported
into Switzerland via Italy or France
under the pretext that Switzerland
may re-export these articles to Ger
many. All explanations given by the
Swiss government to the contrary
have been in vain. A few days ago
the Zurich Post commented on the
subject as follows
Face Hunger.
"All that we want Is to get what
we need OF grain and other provis-
ions and commodities. We protest
against the manner in which the
English have restricted and locked
out our imports because such an
noyances are an intolerable pressure
on our commerce and our whole
economic life"
In o similar strain q Swiss manu-
facturer writes to the Zurich lei
tung:
I'VE should not say a word if our
lack Of supplies were caused through
inevitable circumstances, brought
about by the war, but would simply
accept the inevitable. But the causes
Of the decrease of our imports are
unjustified. Our grain imports have
fallen so far below the normal level
that hunger will soon stare us in the
face. The import of petroleum has
dropped Off SO that even our state
railways have had to reduce the
safety signals. The import Of cotton
is insufficient, and our metal industry
suffers from the complete absence Of
imported copper and other metals.
England Alone to Blame.
Who is to be blamed for all this
deficiency but England? She inter
cepts and seizes goods that are
shipped to Switzerland or prevents
by some means or other such con-
signments from reaching US via
French or Italian ports. 1t is high
time for the Swiss people clearly to
understand that England by such
actions is seriously interfering with
the position of Switzerland as an in
dependent and neutral state and at
the same time violating those special
stipulations contained in the inter
national agreements which safeguard
our positions in case of military COM
plications.
However, we are not alone in our
predicament, for does not America,
a world power, have to submit to the
sapping Of her shipping and trade
with the neutral states of Europe?
Even the recent American note of
protest, we suppose, Will hardly
change the present state of affairs.
Italy is under the tutelage of the
British ambassador, though Prime
Minister Salandra pretends to the
chamber that the Italian nation has
never been greater than at the pres
ent moment. Yet in Italian ports
British agents are superintendenting
the unloading and transport of
goods.
So, too, Holland has to endure the
complete interruption of her oversee
commerce, which she is not even
permitted to maintain with her own
colonies by her own ships. Nor does
tho meeting of the three kings in
Norseland appear to have brought
about another decision, but that
Scandinavia should submit.
Action Arbitrary.
The Zurich Zeitung comments edi-
torially on this: 1--WE have been in
formed authoritatively that England
demands Of Switzerland that we
agree not to ask for any exceptions
from her export prohibitions and
that in no case shall we export any
goods purchased from oversee coun-
tries to either Germany or Austria
This obligation is not only to apply
to goods yet to be imported, but also
to goods now in our country Thus
not even exporting for the purpose
of exchanging or for re-importing in
manufactured state would be al
lowed
"Englands restrictions go even
further in respect to certain raw
materials, chiefly metals. She act
ually wants the expectation Of pro-
ducts manufactured by US in Switzer-
land from these materials completely
excluded.
What would become Of us ii
Germany, initiating the example set
by England, should impose the same
conditions on our purchase of Ger
man goods which England would like
to impose not alone on our purchase
of English goods, but also in respect
to raw materials coming from neu-
tral countries, particularly Amer
ica?'