Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-10-12
Loss of Tourists Business
Means $45.O0O,OOO a Year
to Little Nation.
UPHOLDS It's NEUTRALITY
All BeIIigerents Contribute to System
of Compensation for Maintenance
Country Really Struggling
for Existence.

/ tertainment of foreign visitors was
the principal and most profitable ma
tional industry. 1t is estimated that
the gross receipts from tourist bust
ness in Switzerland amounted in 1913
to over S45,000,000. of which almost
S10,O0O,OOO represented the net profit,
of this industry, in which the capital
invested exceeded 100000. The
1000 hotels specially built for the ac-
cOmmOdatiOn of foreign visitors, con-
tanning more than 10000 beds and
employing about $4,000 servants, are
now mostly closed or empty. 1t is
true that some of them have been used
for prisoners of waY hOspitaliZed in
Switzerland, but the profit thus made
is only nominal.
The loss of tourist business is by no
means the only one suffered by Swift
Zerland. While other neutral cOun-
tries prOspered owing to the war,
Switzerland, surrounded by belliger-
ent natiOns-Germany on the north,
Austria on the east, Italy on the south
and France on the weSt-and COM
PEELED to keep her army on war foot
ing to defend her neutrality and watch
her frontiers, paid the penalty of her
special geographical position. But
besides increased military expenditure
which the war rendered Indispensable,
Switzerland. despite her neutrality. is
exclusively dependent on her neighbors
for food. Without their help she will
starve. and she needs help both from
the allies and the central empires.
Help for Switzerland.
Both groups of belligerentS admitted
that the case of Switzerland was es-
sentially an exceptional one, and after
labOriOus negotiations they consented
to the adoption of the sO-called system
of compensatiOns. This system is far
from perfect, as besides benetiting
Switzerlandsit benefits her neighbors
as well, but not to the same extent 1t
follows that the allies and the central
empires complain that their goods are
being re-exported to the enemy, and
o both are continually blaming the Swiss
, government of Partially and threaten
| ing to break off commercial relations.
, Switzerland only exports natural
| products to the central empires, prin-
( cipally live stock, milk, butter and
2 cheese, and she gets in return coal,
t iron, artificial manure, sulphate of
: aluminium, benZOl, zinc, straw, chem
D ical dyes and potatoes. Swiss exports
( to Germany and Austria are supposed
to compensate the imports from these
: two countries, and in order to prevent
: that goods Of ally origin should be ex-
e ported to enemy countries, the Society
: of Swiss Surveillance. generally known
n as S. S. S. has been formed under the
n auspices of the allies to control Swiss
: expectation to the central empires.
The allies export wheat to SwitZer
!: land, or rather allow 1t to be exported
y from neutral countries, and grant spe
cial facilities for its being landed an6
= discharged at Cette - France ant
l. conveyed to destination. Rice, corn
: sugar and other fOOdstuffs. as well as
u raw materials, are also exported b!
u the allies to Switzerland, which com
> pensates them by exporting In re
/ turn machinery and semimanufacturet
u materials which serve for the war.
% Allies Gain by Deal.
e II is a fact, however, that SwitZer
Ie land is getting more from German!
D. and Austria than what she is givinl
le them. while her compensation to tn
s allies is considerably less than wha
IL she gets. Besides, while Swiss export
lie TO the allies are no. absolutely inds
in pensable, those to the central empires
representing exclusively foOdstuifs. ar
undoubtedly prOlonging the militar
resistance Of the enemy and counter
n acting the effect of the allies block
ade.
In 1t is suspected that Germany an
Austria are cOmpensating SwitZerlan
literally for cOntraband which. despit
the control of the S. s. s.. still floul
a ishes and that even allied goods. sue
as for instance as rubber, find their wa
rs to Germany and Austria. The Swis
government denies that cOntraband
ry favor of the central empires is to
g. Grated. Every effort is done to r.
Mt press it and generally with success, a
Ot though it is impossible to stop ii alt
ed cetber. The excess of AuStro-Germa
ok exports is explained by the fact TIN
in since the allies cannot supply Switze
land with coal and minerals. whit
IN, are Indispensable for Swiss industri'
DIS which otherwise would be paralyzt
at and widespread unemployment M
by destitution would follow, every effo
ty, is made not to diminish Swiss expor
is TO the central empires which benei
the country considerably more thu
ter those to allied countries.
ne If cattle were not exported 10 lie
lth MANY for instance cattle raiSiI
az would not he profitable in SwitZerlaI
owing to the high cost of fodder al
the rural population would suffer. II
an. same may be said of milk, fresh al
in condensed. and cheese, which besid
are also exported to allied countrit
into the army will be automatical
nd extended from the date OF enllstme
cir TO the date of discharge. Mr.. Dod