New-York tribune., 1917-07-21
Difficulties of a Neuh.,
An Appeal by Switz.rl,,l
American People
To the Editor Of Tn. Tr;hr,

mas the much d.
embargo question been settled !. ~
has been put in the hands Of ~. ss
Council, than some of your CONF. lsss
have found it necessary 10 v,,,.
sensational news dispatchs. @kI
rejecting on the attitude Of N. .. ~
ing neutral countries in EurOp. mI
this is the privilege Of the n,...,N
few words Of accurate inform,,;.. ~
benefit Of the readers relative =. ~
them-Switzerland-migh. no. \. ~sl
pirate. MA
1t has been shown that the sx;.
from the United States hav. ss
marksbly since the outbreak ~ ~.
as result Switzerland has be.a % n
turning over the surplus to Germ,,'
assumption is, however, most pniaa! i! NJ
must be remembered that the E.I.'.~s
public is at present unable to nn,.
her former markets-which al,
allied countries-and she was a&s
obliged 70 turn TO America f,r L.'aa
and France has placed the M.a;.'h hsA
port OF Cette especially at her di,uo,.i =
very fact makes any further exsl,s.lns s ~
unnecessary. sa
Then it has been openly suee...
the Alpine republic should give M "
trality. This is but idle talk of as ~
excusable, because one cannot sy..Nei "
fully informed 5000 miles avav
actual theatre Of war. The foolish. y
such suggestions is moreover
through the fact that none OF N. ssH
belligerents have ever made the ,,. ss
that Switzerland should join them sas
land is bound by the treaty Of Is,s ..'
ally herself, in case of war. with ,iI..s
In return her neighbors guaranteed =, ss e
part TO respect Swiss TERRITORY. s,;,s,'sF
that Switzerland herself defend 4 - -
ell comers. And as Switzerland IN l,% %
democratic spirit regards treaty a, 80 40
ing contract" in the full sense Of a, ~,
and not as scrap Of paper 81. 49,
in honor bound to this agreement. IN, -
on all sides of her frontier against a, ~
sible attempt-from whatever ou,r,.. :.
might come-to violate her TERRITORY IN a.
sake of attacking the enemy from 4, -.
If one of her neighbors should su...l :
setting foot on her soil, Switzerland ,,.,
unavoidably become the BATTLEFIELD M
rope.
Switzerland's Democracy
Switzerland, as you know, is the eh,r,n.
of democracy and liberty, which 81. brsT.
ally defended ever since 1891, and Il ,ul
be unfair to question her good faith !, ,s,,
struggle. For 626 years she has ben Al.
to maintain her integrity, and her .iscs,t,
trained soldiers would without doub. NJ,
noteworthy account OF themselves ..,lr n
Helvetian territory should be violated; bu.
hardly would they be able to repux IA
overwhelming forces which would then fpu
all sides invade the country. Does II 10,
occur to you that the fate Of Swit,srs,l
would be sealed beforehand, that she vsrli
be doomed to devastation and destrust,s 10
matter how vc.oriously the struggle would
finally end for her? And " preyea! sks
misery and for the benefit Of all belliysssts
Switzerland's soldiers have for three yesrs
vigilantly guarded the frontiers ct cot 0!
Sl16,000,O00. making $50 per capita sa Aa
population of 100000. During this wre.
Of three years, when wave Of urpecedsr.'
ed prosperity swept over the United Sa.a
the European neutrals have made enorusul
sacrifices and have had 10 overcome untold
hardships--almost equalling those n hs
| helligerents-jus. in order to maintain shsiI
neutrality.
Switzerland is practically helpless ssa'
tral, and she is scrupulously neutrsl, u
clared in No. so of the bulletin Of the An
ance Francaise," published in Paris, vsG'
We read: "And she Switzerland An sV'
endeavored to be strictly neutral ssiuc
land is one of the countries in tie sarid
who has pushed neutrality TO the s1t'sn'
limit, even restricting liberties which sssFs:
most assured in a democratic confed.ntHh
Switzerland claims the right to live ~
work, and this will have TO be gransH
her. Indeed, she wants to live and vo'k ~
only. for herself, but for humanity's san y
she has the conviction that she is ealiA
fulfil a great mission during and psn'''
Immediately after this war.
Swiss Work for Humanity.
The European belligerents are rslsaae
over the existence of Switzerland as . "Aa
state through which they can hnd' ss' H'
communication with and even feed thsf ~
held captive in enemy countries. DO na ~ ~
to dwell upon the magnanimous chana"'
activities Of Switzerland on behalf Of Al -
sufferers, military and civilians. Inc s'S
perform the role OF good Samaritan
matter of fact, and they recognize no elns
tion or nationality in this Christian o's W
And if Uncle Sam should, at an' IN,
need the tender care Of Mother h'W.-
for his wounded boys from the trshe'.
they would find in the peaceful isois'''
Switzerland a haven Of refuge.
Recent dispatches hinted at Swiss ".
workinO in this country in the intefs"