Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-09
THE NEUTRALITY OF SWITZERLAND

dispatch dated London. 4th instant,
announced that Germany had apollo
gized to Switzerland
The Affair Of for the bombing of the
a. Swiss village of Por-
tne OolonelS. entruy by German air
men. A protest by the federal council
through the Swiss minister in Berlin
provoked the plea that the aviators
''mistook Porentruy for Belfort"
Switzerland complains that In the
affair of the colonels' her neutrality
has been violated. and in some home
circles 1t is charged that the affair
was inspired by intrigues involving
those in high commands of the Swiss
army. The affair of the colonies has
created very bad feeling throughout
the country. although somewhat at
tenuated by the punishment applied by
the military authorities.
Two officers Of the general staff, Coils.
Egli and Wattenwyl, it Will be re-
called. were detected some time in De-
cember last as having communicated
to the military attaches of the central
empires information which had been
collected by the Swiss staff concerning
ian armies. The two colonies were ac-
quilted, but the points in the judgment
are so novel and disconcerting as to
explain the alarm of the >Swiss public
opinion.
The considerations developed by the
deposition Of Col. Won Sprecher Won
Bernegg, chief of the general staff. are
of Importance as disclosing a singular
conception in the high commandment
Of the Swiss army as to what consti-
tutes neutrality.
The intelligence service" says the
chief of staff. may easily find itself
in conflict with neutrality. During this
war we know what has become of the
notion OF neutrality. We have the right
to exchange postal communications
with neutrals: this right has been an
nulled by those who command the high
seas. In Switzerland. this notion has
very much varied during the war:
regulation prohibits us from giving
munitions to beiligerents, but this does
not prevent us from delivering mil
lions. We therefore cannot submit ser
vilely to that notion of neutrality.
1.-THE notion Of neutrality Is not pre-
cise We are of the opinion that neu
trality does not
Duties and RIGHTS only impose duties,
but confers rights.
of Neutrality. The actual tenden-
CIV is without contradiction to restrain
these rights and to insist on the duties
If we are obliged on the one part TO
tolerate that our rights may be restrict
ed, we should not observe sc precisely
our duties as to neutrality
The lesson conveyed is indisputaole
that however useful the military or
naval attaches may be in peace times,
their presence at embassies or iesa-
lions of neutrals in war times is sus-
ceptible of much trouble because OF
their intimate relations with the offi-
GERS of the non -belligerent powers Inc
famous theory of compensatlons IN the
traffic of military information is an an
surdity made manifest in this affair
of the Swiss colonies. The judgment
of Zurich severely condemned the prac-
tice, but confessed that the two colo
nels had evidently confused the inter-
ests of the service with those of neu-
trality.
The conclusions of the tribunal We're:
First, acquittal: second. the case re-
ferred to a military tribunal for dis
ciplinary punishment, third, the state
responsible for costs.
The romano and German cantons or
Switzerland are distinguished by par
ticular traits of character. but they are
united by the same democratic spirit.
which will not tolerate readily the idea
that there may be established in the
country a military caste opposed to the
ideal policy of the state. This explains
that the emotion in Switzerland Is not
confined to the part of Switzerland in
sympathy with the allies. but extends
to the whole confederation.
The Swiss people have high sense
of neutrality Joined to an admirable
spirit of charity and humanity.
It is explained by those who compre
bend the interior affairs of Switzerland
that the affair of the
Arie+ooro+;o two colonies has grown
out of a condition. The
EamlIles. families of these supe-
rior officers constitute little world
apart in Helvetia. In the first place
they claim to belong to an ancient pa
triarchal canton, where the regrets of
their lost power subsist with the con-
slant regrets of their lost prestige. In
a number of these families a son enters
the German or the Austrian armies or
establishes relations with their officers.
Now the permanent corps of officers
in Switzerland is largely recruited from
circles in which the military profess
sion. as rule, is composed OF the
titled. Besides. the Teutonic popula-
ton Of Switzerland is the most numer-
Gus. and the staff of the army of the
is notably German or of
Germanic origin. These consciously or
adopt the manners and
spirit of the grand Germanic model.
Following the popular emotion. the
national assembly has discussed per-
sistently Switzerland's violated neu-
trality. A series of orations were de-
livered on the affair of the two colonels
when the president of the oonfedera-
ton, NJ. de Coppet. pronounced long
speech with the object of Cancellation.
The president explained that Gen
Willie and the federal council We're
two colonels could be settled without
public scandal. 1t would have been
certainly: but the president
would admit that Gen. Willie may have
gone too far in giving to Coils. Egli and
Won Wattenwyl important commands
solely to separate them from the staff.
AS for the reproaches made by Col. |
Secretan that officers had been sent to
Belgium and Serbia on service, they had
,eeu sent also to the German and Aus |
.rian fronts, as others had been sent to
he allied armies. 1t was simply chance |
that had sent them to Belgium and F,
Serbia 1t should be borne in mind, |
likewise, that the officer sent to Serbia |
was especially to inform himself as to |
he horrors of war in country that
assembled Switzerland.
The federal council never meant to |
favor the culpable officers; it meant !
really to save the /
The Punishment dignity of switzer-