Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-12-07
SWITZERLAND
TO CONTROL
FOREIGNERS

BERNIE, Dec. Switzerland final
ly has taken initial steps to control
the undesirable foreign element from
which she has suffered as no other
neutral country since August, 1917.
New regulations adopted by the fed
eral council are intended to make it
difficult for the agent of one of the
warning countries, for the deserter
from any side, for the foreigner with
out obvious, legitimate means of live
lihood and occupation to flock, as
heretofore, into the little country that
IS trying desperately to maintain an
upright neutrality and at the same
time weather the storm until peace
arrives.
Switzerland hitherto has permitted,
without any material objection, scores
of thousands of strangers to enter al
most as freely as in peace times. Now
action has been taken to stop this
only because her hospitality has been
grossly violated, her neutrality at
times even threatened.
The new rules which will become
effective as soon as the Swiss dipIo-
matte and consular officials through
out the world can be notified, require
that all foreigners entering the
country must be equipped with iron
Clad passports from their own coun-
tries, or equivalent papers of identifl-
cation; that prior to coming to Swift
zerland all foreigners must furnish to
Swiss diplomatic or consular officialA
adequate reasons for wanting TO come
here, and that, after arrival, strang-
ers must register with the police OF
the city or town they intend to IN
Labit.
There has always been a daily traf
fc between France and Switzerland IN
the neighborhood of Geneva, and be.
tween Germany and Switzerland near
Basel no the part of laborers and 9TH
ers. Many undesirable foreigners
have struggled themselves across the
border and have failed to return once
in Switzerland, they have been able
to hide, because if the lack of control
over foreigners.
That all is to be changed. Every
nerson crossing the border at other
than the ordinary points where iron
clad passports will be required will be
numbered. If he fails to return, tho
police will be put upon his trail. He
will have little chance of escaping, for
without the right kind of credentials,
he is unable to obtain bread. A bread
card is more important than the
money with which to purchase it
and a bread card is issued only on
presentation of identifications papers
The hotel at which the newcomer
stops. the pension that takes him IN
the private family to whom he may
20, are all liable to heavy penalties
if they fail to announce his arrival.
There remains the problem OF the
deserters who have managed to nee
across the boundary from one army
mr. another. and of the near deserters -
those who have come here with the
permission of their respective gov
arnments. and then have declined to
return. Swiss law prescribes tina,
these deserters and refractionarleF
as thew are called, cannot be forcib!y
deported There are in Switzerland
now It is estimated, between ten and
fifteen thousand of these gentry Not
ALI of them are bad citizens. Hundreds
OF them. at least, are galnfully occu
MED and are living model lives
Others are undesirable to the point OF
being out-and-out criminals. Figures
for Geneva alone show that out OF
10000 foreigners among its 10000
population, 1886 are deserters, ana
2452 refractionaries, while in Aurlch
these figures are exceeded,
The agitation for the utilization OF
the man-powwer represented by the
deserters and refractionaries is 50
strong that it will surprise no one to
see steps taken to incorporate the ma
iori,y Of them into a civilian service
Of manual labor in agriculture.