The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-10-09

| iohu. SOuSIdHI disputes are arising
relative to contraband, conditional
contraband, imports and their final
consumer.
Is Between Two Fires.
The situation finds adequate express.
sion In the words of a contributor to
the Gazette de Lausanne:
Germany and Austria have said to
Switzerland: We are perfectly will
ing to deliver you such raw materials
as you lack. But you must give US
In exchange not money but certain
products of which the allies blockade
deprives us and which we need The
allies object to this, saying to Switzer-
land: From the beginning of the
war we have placed our ships and
our trains at your service, and. I'M
| like our enemies, we have never
thought of imposing compensations
| in goods upon you. In the future, as
| in the past, we are quite willing to
furnish you with raw materials as
well as with foodstuffs. Only, desir-
ing that our blockade be effective, we
ask you to give your word not to pass
on in any form whatever to our enc.
mics that which we procure for you
Switzerland replies to the allies:
1 am grateful to you for supplying
me with foodstuffs and raw materials |
without demanding compensation. |
Masters of the ocean, you have been
able to do me this service, like good |
neighbors. Germany and Austria, al
though blockaded by your fleets, have
also done what they could for me.
Driven by need, they asked me to
pay them in goods, while continuing
to pay you in specie; and l have not
refused, being myself hard pressed
and neutral-that is, equally friendly
to all and unwillingly to increase diff
ncultfes. In the meantime your fears
are groundless, for | have taken care
formally to forbid the expectation
from my territories of whole series
Or goods Of urgent necessity. And
am always on the watch for snug
glers.
Needs Of Swiss Industry.
On the other hand, my industries
must live in spite of your war, on
account OF which l, though perfectly
innocent, suffer more than you, per-
maps, believe. And in order that nv ,
industries be not ruined they must
De permitted to re-cxport to all coun- I
RES the articles manufactured from s
aw materials furnished by no matter 6
WAT belligerent. l am neutral of my
'wn free will, but with your appro- ,
'ation. That is why, although | have
obligations toward you land | do not
leny them), that you also have a few
oward me, of which the first and es-
entail Is to let me live"
Here is the situation in a nutshell
The result Of pressure from both
ides, but principally from the side of :.
ne allies. has been to make the Swiss
onscious OF their nationality and to :
tart wave Of patriotism. Negotia. !"
Ions are going on to regulate the mat a
ers of difference between the little :,
country and it's powerful o
eighbors by establishing a Swiss con. y
'ol IT all foreign trade with a view to ~
DING away with chances for cheating. y
or the people will not listen to prop ~
sitions from either side Offering III
compensation" after the war. Thew
ant the difficulty done away with y
ow, Immediately. w
Would Fight for Riahts. o. =.
The Swiss are aware of their force :"
he effect of 35" 900 sturdy. we'll.
luipped and trained soldiers thrown -
to the balance today on either side
ould be considerable-mig be de- w.
sive. stl
we have been much too humble"
en- tell me here. From now on We
all cease to supplicate and begin to ev
mand. courteously but firmly" ar
Would you fight?" al
Certainly, IL forced to 1t. We re-. ma
Sc to starve or be driven bankrunt ou
lgiand and France and Italy must en-
brought to realize this fact or ca
&c the consequences" IN,
But your personal sympathies. as
u have Just told me, are with the
untrfes you mention"
That is true. But you must real. III,
that before we are German, French Ru
Italian we are Swiss. We have wa
own country to look after. In any ia
an extreme case an attempt by res
German-speaking majority to Kill
'ce the nation into war against tho NO.