Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-23
N, De COPPET IS
MADE PRESIDENT
OF SWITZERLAND
New Executive Compares HIS
Country with United States
Says Peace Is Now
Far or.

Ba,,e. suitzerlan0. Dec. -. via farls.-
Camille Do Coppet was to-day elected
president of the Swiss republic and Ed
tnund Schulthess vice president NJ. DE
Coppet is a former minister of justice and
.he present vice-presdent OF the republic
The elections were held Mt special
session OF the national assembly this
morning in which the upper and lower
branches of Parliament jointly partici-
pated.
The American minister to Switzerland
pleasant A. Stovall. with a party OF
Americans, occupied seats In the diplo-
matte gallery The ceremony was a brief
ono. resembling n joint session OF the
American Congress to count the electoral
vote for president Of the United States.
NJ De Coppet comes from a French can
ton. His predecessor, DR.. Giuseppe Mot;a-
came from an Italian canton while DR.,
Motta's predecessor was from German
canton, thus making q steady succession
OF presidents from the French, Italian
end German element in the community.
After his election NJ. De Coppet received
the Associated Press representative III
his present office of secretary of way,
which he holds In conjunction with that
Of vce-president OF the republic. He OK
pressed satisfa cton with the result of the
election and alluded TO the simplicity OF
Swiss elections as compared WITH the
extensive campaign preparations.
The interests Of the United States and
Switzerland" said NJ De Coppet are
much the same. We both belong to re-
publics with the same ideas and aspira-
tons. the same form of government. and
Just now. the same international policy
of remaining strictly neutral in the
present war.
However, America views tho con-
! nct from a distance. whereas our
geographical position makes neutrality
Very serious question with the tight
Ing elements all around US. Austria on
the east, Germany on the north. France
on the west and Italy on the south. a
complete circle OF belligerent frontiers.
yet. like the United States, we have
| succeeded in maintaining absolute nell
| trality. not only with our military forces.
| but also with every humane activity
| which Switzerland has been called upon
to perform, such as the passing of ex-
| changed wounded soldiers across our
| territory, looking after more than hun
| bred thousand persons dispossessod from
invaded regions and in administering an
| entire postal service between prisoners
of war of the various beiligerent countries
| and their relatives All this has been done
1 with rigid impartal!ty. exactly the same
| considerations being shown the French.
Italians. Germans. Austrians and others.
| When NJ De Coppet was asked about
| peace and the possibilities of action in this
direction by the neutral governments. he
| shook his head and said:
! 1.-The time has not yet come for any Sc
rious movement toward peace. and it Is
difficult to say when that time may ar
rive with all the parties so firmly fixed
against considering the question. In this,
as in all questions relating to the war,
the position of Switzerland is one Of COM
plete disnterestedness and neutrality"
The interview terminated with the arri-
val Of committee of the national assem-
bly, to notify NJ. De Coppet of his election
as president of the confederat ton.