The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-14
SWISS ARE BEING
FORCED INTO LEAGUE
Constant War Menace and No
Benefits Are Seen by
Republic.
LOOK TO U. S. FOR RELIEF
Council of Leading Military
Men Warned Against Perils
of Joining.
LOOK TO U. S. FOR RELIEF

ZURICH, August 2l.-Will the largest
republic save the oldest republic? The
people of Switzerland hope the Ameri-
can Senate, backed by the majority Of
the American people, will save them
not only Switzerland but all the other
small nations that are being forced into
the League Of Nations, so called, against
their own will.
The Swiss people, through their Gov
eminent, protested against the covenant,
framed In Paris, but their objections
were ruthlessly brushed aside. Switzer-
land was told she must JON or economic
ruin would follow. Reservations Will
not be permitted. She must join within
two months after ratification by three OF
the principal Powers or she will become
a third rate member Of the league IN
stead of second rate member
The Swiss people will have to vote on
the question whether TO join the league
or not Among the Swiss people there
is not one In a hundred who really cares
to SEQ his country Join the league there
Is not one in a thousand who enthusiast
tjcally supports this kind of league,
and there is not one in ten thousand
who does not regret the sacrifice of the
Independence of the oldest republic OF
the world.
The principal argument put forward
by the advocates" Of the league Is
this: at is true It is bad for Switzer-
land to Join this league 1t is humiliat-
ing: our independence and economic life
are being jeopardized, but we might as
well join, for should we stay out our fate
will be worse. So let's go in and try
to improve matters in the course OF
time. At any rate, we may get out
again after giving two years notice"
Now all eyes are turned toward Amer
lea. All hearts are hoping and all
hearts are praying that the American
Senate in behalf Of the American peo-
ME will deliver them from the league,
will smash the letters that are to en-
chain a people that heretofore was the
freest in Europe. And the same pray
ers are said in Holland, in Denmark, in
Norway and in Sweden. All these peo-
niles are appealing to the American ma
ton, asking the strongest democracy to
save the weaker ones.
Government surrenders.
In Switzerland tremendous pressure
has been exerted In order to bring abou.
submission. When the covenant was
first published there was practical una
nimity in condemnation. The friends
Of a real league were shocked. The
Government were dumbfcunded. Then
the screws were set They were tight
ened from time to time. The Govern
ment finally succumbed. 1t now recon-
mends joining the league in lengthy
message IN which 1t comedies the inju-
rious features Of the covenant, but also
appears to find few extenuating cir
cumstances. The Legislature will have
to decide rext, and then the question
will be submitted to the people as a
whole.
The Swiss Cover nnI-nL Is cOwed.
There is no doubt about II. It declared
in favor of the league, but It's sincerity
Is being doubted. Some people say the
Government did not dare to oppose the
scheme, but hopes the people will kill it.
Some pertinent questions are being
asked in the newspapers, in mass meet
ings and at political conventions. The
people want to know whether their rep
resentatives were coerced by outside in
huences. OF course the Government will
not tell them.
There is one thing as certain as death
II the American Senate smashes the
league there will be bonfires on every
mountain peak of the Alps and n mag
nifcent majority of Swiss citizens will
joyfully vote against joining the octopus.
A huge load will be lifted from the body
of the Swiss people, who again will be
able to draw free breath.
Edward Schuerch, editor Of the Bern
BEnd, one of the leading journals Of
the country, addressing a convention
OF his party said: I'VE cannot save
ourselves. We tried to, but we failed.
hope America will save u.s.
Schuerch was one of five Swiss jour
nalists who, upon the invitation of the
United States Government, visited
America only a few months ago and is
IN nh ,avI
can sentiment, although a strict CEN
sorship prevents any real American
news from reaching our country.
Every Swiss newspaper is filled with
discussion of the league. Says the
Zurich Post:
IF the covenant were defective in
= form only, II there were any possibility
OF improving 1t, we could waive our
objections. But there Is no such posi-
bility II Switzerland Joins the League
OF Nations she will have to sacrifice
her traditional policy of neutrality
proven valuable for hundreds of years
And the league will not guarantee to
us that economic security of which so
many have been dreaming. We must
not only give up our cherished neu-
trality, but also part of our sovereignty
Switzerland will be merely a yassal
State. She will have no say as Ia
whether she wants to go to war, but
she will be told by others when she
is to send out her youth to give battle
Neutrality Not Protected.
1--WE have been told that the league
viii not affect our neutrality in n mill
tary respect. Article XXI OF the cove
nant and Article 435 of the peace
treaty have been pointed out to US. We
are told these articles will protect our
neutrality. But this statement viii not
stand the test OF closer examination
Article XXI mentions the Monroe Doc
trine, but It does not mention Swiss
neutrality. There Is no doubt ebout
the obligation of the United States &c
take part In war Of execution. in spitC
of the so-called recognition OF the Mon.
roe Doctrine This proves that interna.
tional agreements mentioned in thai
article do not release any, member ot
the league from taking part IN n war
ITO believe that the league woult
lessen the peril of war Is delusinn
II may have removed the danger so IA
as Germany and Austria. now withnu
power and defence, are concerned. Blu
II Is not true Of Serho- Croatia and tn,
other Balkan States. Who would guar
antee that friendship between those tw
Latin sisters. France and Italy, will las
much longer? The league imposed dis
armament upon the defeated nation
only. not upon the victors DouRla
Haig tells Britain even TO reorganize he
military system after the PrussiaI
model