New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-14
SWISS ASK RIGHT
TO LIVE AND WORK
President Motta of Repub-
lie Tells of Aims of His
Countrymen.

London, Jan. ia correspondent Of
"The Daily News" has had an inter
view at Berne with NJ. Motta, President
OF the Swiss Confederation, in the
course Of which the President said:
During the first FIVE months OF the
war we spent s22,000,O00 on mobilizs-
ton for the defence Of our frontier
and on purely military expenditure, and
il is going on. II is an enormous sac
rfce for the Swiss people, and the
spirit in which the burden is being
borne is the most striking proof of the
determination Of Switzerland 20 remain
neutral.
an the ordinary general budget Of
the Confederation ! have estimated for
deficit Of S4,S00000 in 1915, and the
deficit in 1914 will come 10 about the
same total. The extraordinary expenses
which Switzerland has been put "a
through the war are carried IN the
general budget
This led the President 20 pass 10 the
serious economic position In which
Switzerland finds herself, and to ex-
press the hope that the belligerent'
will recognize the humanitarian work
she is enabled TO do by letting her pop
ulation live and work
Commerce Seriously Affected.
"Our commerce." continued the Pres
ident. us seriously interfered with by
the war. To meet the views of Ger
tain OF the belligerents on the ques-
tion Of contraband We have already
provided that only the state can i'm
port cereals and forage and that all
suspicion that these are for export
shall be eliminated
What we want to do in Switzerland
is 10 live and work. and IT is essential
now for Us to be able to import raw
material and partly manufactured arti-
cles 10 keep our factories open and
give the people employment, thus en-
sbling ourselves to export manufacI-
ured goods into the markets OF the
countries that surround US.
1--WE are friends with everybody
We have retained concrete and cordial
relations with all the nations at war
and have no object other than 10 40
our best for all. We shall do nothing
20 encourage any feeling o. hatred
between the belligerents.
public opinion here IS absolutely
/ impartial. That. Of course, does not
/ prevent individuals OF the varied races
/ which make up our confederation hold
Ing individual leanings toward one oil
/ the other OF the combatants. but wheeI
/ the federal council told the people
/ thew had TO remember that they were
/ Swiss above all and before al there
was an awakening OF the public con
/ science. and nov events are examined
from a purely Swiss point OF view I'M
partially and effectively.
Strong for Neutrality.
/ "You must be on your guard agains
accepting individual appreciation a.
representing the mass Of Swiss opln
/ ION II is essential that our neutrality
be not touched and that We be allowed
TO live as a nation 10 complete tht
humanitarian works we have IN hand
In our internal democratic organlza
I ton we are endeavoring to realize inc
IDEAL OF civilization, which consists IN
fruitful collaboration of the races
The dav Switzerland forgets that the
foundation Of its institutions IS de
mocracv and that its objective IS the
co-operation Of the races for the oene
1T Of humanity, Switzerland will nave
lost the essential raison d'etre of ITS
existence
~ can assure you there is no an
tinathv against England in Switzerland
Remember. all We ask is to 1--we anc
work. To do that we must have th'
means of introducing our food supplies
and the raw products nece ''arF ior o1l
industries