Arizona republican., 1915-12-17
COPPET CHOSEN
 PRESIDENT IF SWISS REPUBLIC
Republican A. p. Leased wirel

Republican A. p. Leased Wirel
 BERNE, Switzerland. Dec 16 via Paris) s)-Camille De Coppet was elect ed today president of the Swiss re- public and Edmund Schulthess vice. president M. De Coppet is former minister of justice and the present vice president of the republic
 The elections were held at spe- cial session of the National Assembly this morning in which the upper and lower branches of parliament jointly participated.
 The American minister to Switzcr- land, Pleasant A. StovaIl. with a party of Americans. occupied seats in the diplomatic gallery. The ceremony was a brief one. resembling q joint session of the American congress to count the electoral vote for president of the United States.
 M. De Coppet comes from a French canton. His predecessor. Dr. Giuseppe Motta, came from an Italian canton. while Dr. Motta's predecessor Was from German canton, thus making a steady procession of presidents from the French. Italian and German ele- ments in the community.
 After his election M De Coppet re- ceived the Associated Press represen-
  | tary of war. which holds in conjunc- ! tion with that of vice president of the republic. He expressed satisfaction l with the result of the election and referred to the simplicity of Swiss | elections as compared with the eXteu- | siVe preparedness for the congress of | the election of executives in the i United States
 The interests of the United States ! and Switzerland" said Al. De Coppct, ] -aIe much the same. We both belong | to republics with the same ideas and aspirations. the same form of govern ! ment and just now the same intcrna- | tional policy of remaining strictly neu- | tral in the presnt war.
 1 However, America views the con- l flict from distance. whereas our l geographical position makes neutrality a very serious proposition with the | fighting clements all around us-Aus- ! tria on the east. Germany on the l north France on the west and Italy ! on the south. a complete circle of bel ligerent frontiers.
 Yet. like the United States. we | have succeeded in maintaining absolute | neutrality. not only with Austrian l military forces. but also with every humane activity which Switzerland has been called upon to perform. such 1 as the passing of exchanged wounded l soldiers across our territory, looking | after more than a hundred thousand 1 persons dispossessed from invaded re- l gions and in administering an entire | postal service between prisoners of l war of the various belligerent coun- tries and their relatives. All this has been done with rigid impartiality. eN- actly the same considerations being shown the French, Italians Germans. Austrians and others.
 q am glad to say that New York has aided Us greatly in meeting the food situation. Switzerland has ob- tained all it's stocks of wheat and flour from New York and also se- | cured through New York all facilities for their transportation by ocean. We have established a government monop- oily over such staple foodstuffs as wheat and flour, as Switzerland did not want the war conditions to result 1 in speculative rise of prices and tho l oppression of the people.
 In carrying out this policy it be- came very important to Secure tho | cooperation of American industries and shippers and I found them ready 1 to assist us fully. As result of this American cooperation Switzerland Ina: | never lacked the essential food sup | plies. particularly wheat and flour an' has never lacked prompt facilities fol their shipment. Therefore, our food
 prices are kept normal through gov ernment control and our people hav'
 not felt any serious distress by req
 son of the war conditions.
 When NJ. De Coppet was asked
 about peace and the possibilities Q
 action in this direction by the neutra
 governments, he shook his head an'
 said
 The time has not yet come for an!
 serious movement toward peace an
 it is difficult to say when that tim
 may arrive with all the parties s'
 firmly fixed against considering tn
 question. In this, as in all question
 relating to the war. the principle O
 Switzerland is one of important disin
 terestedness and neutrality.
 The interview terminated with tn
 arrival of a committee of the nationa
 assembly to notify M. De Coppet O
 his election as president of the con
 federation.