The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1917-10-20

for prisoners of war 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 beneftlng
Switzerland 1t 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-eIported to the enemy, and
both are continually blaming the Swiss
government Of Partially and threaten
ing to break of commercial relations.
Switzerland only exports natural
products to the central empires. prin-
| cpally live stock, milk. butter and
cheese, and she gets in return coal,
iron, artificial manure, sulphate Of
aluminium, benzol, zinc, straw, chem
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-
ported to enemy countries the Society
Of Swiss Surveillance, generally known
rs S. s. s., has been formed under the
auspices of the allies to control Swiss
expectation to the central empires.
The allies export wheat to Switzer-
land, or rather allow II to be exported
from neutral countries, and grant spe-
clal facilities for It's being landed and
discharged at Cette In France and
conveyed to destination. Rice, corn.
sugar and other foodstuffs, as well as
raw materials, are also exported by
the allies to Switzerland, which COM
| pensates them by exporting In re-
turn machinery and northumberland
materials which serve for the war.
Allies Gain by Deal.
land Is getting more from Germany
and Austria than what she Is giving
them, while her compensation to the
allies Is considerably less than what
she gets. Besides, while Swiss exports
to the allies are not absolutely indis-
pensable, those to the central empires
representing exclusively foodstuffs are
undoubtedly prOlonging the military
resistance of the enemy and counter
acting the effect Of the allies block.
ade.
1t Is suspected that Germany and
Austria are compensating Switzerland
literally for contraband which, despite
the control Of the s. s. s., still flour.
Ishe5 and that even allied goods, such
for instance as rubber, find their way
to Germany and Austria. The Swiss
government denies that contraband In
favor OF the central empires Is toll.
Grated. Every effort Is done to re-
press II and generally with success, al.
though 1t is impossible to stop 1t alto
gether. The excess Of Austro-G German
exports Is explained by the fact that
since the allies cannot supply Switzer.
land with coal and minerals, which
are indispensable for Swiss industries
which otherwise would be paralyzed
and widespread unemployment and
restitution would follow, every effort
is made not to diminish Swiss exports
to the central empires which benefit
the country considerably more than
those 10 allied countries.
II cattle were not exported to Ger.
many for instance cattle raising
would not be profitable In Switzerland
owing to the high cost of fodder and
the rural population would suffer. The
same may be said Of milk, fresh and
condensed, and cheese, which besides
are also exported to allied countries