The Washington herald., 1921-08-11
Geneyese Want Dutyless
Commerce Privilege
Receded.
NEED HINTERLAND
TO SUPPORT TOWN
Swiss Have Built up Pros
porous Town on This
- Foundation.

GENEVA, Aug. 10. - The treol-
tioual~ sfTiendship between Geneva
and l,eFr neighbor. France, has been
put 20 a severe test through what
is known as the zone question
To the citizens of Geneva the is
sue. means the continuance OF their
eity's long career Of prosperity or
the beginning OF slow death Con-
Seauently. when France recently an
nounced her intention OF suppress
ing the zones. IL came in the nature
Of a severe blow TO the long estao-
1ished friendship between the two
neighbors-
4 detailed map of the region OF
Geneva shows a sort of "hinterland
surrounding the city on three sides
These are the free IONS, which to
the body poIitic Of the canton and
city are as important as the vital
organs to the human body. 1t is
thanks to the establishment of these
zones that Geneva has been able to
develop into the PROSPEROUS city
she, is. without them she would
find herself squeezed in between the
lake and the French frontier.
Agreement Necessary.
+ The necessity of creating a spc-
ciaI ''hintcrland" for Geneva in
which TO buy the supplies she needs
has been recognized for centuries.
According to Article XXXV Of the
aty-of,EersaiIles. these free zones
are, considered no longer to comply
with present conditions. and their
readjustment is left to mutual
sgreemeRt" between France and
Switzerland. This attempt at "mu-
resulted in disagreement.
The zones are four in number.
three being situated in Savoy. Re-
known as the neutrality zone"
created -hy the treaty of Vienna in
1915 as-a-precautionary measure by
the allies against the France of
Napoleon. Switzerland makes no
protest; she is perfectly willing to
abandon her right to occupy this
zone with her troops 10 safeguard
her neutrality. which she feels is
no longer threatened by France.
~, other Three Zones.
The three other zones are the Gus
tom. ADnes. and it is these which
form the present bone of contention.
One ,nf them. the little zone Of Gex.
situated to the west of Geneva, was
already in existence 300 years ago.
The fourth and largest zone dates
from 1850 when SavOI was Joined
10 France under Napoleon III. and
includes twO-thirds of the French
Department of Haute -SavOie and n
small portion Of Savoie Department.
Among the. inhabitants Of the
+, zones. the peasants who live close
to h "A
maintaining the present system,
which enables them to dispose of
their. market produce with the
Geneyese.
Business Wants Change.
on the other hand. the Industrial
and commercial interest of Savoy
would. in the opinion of most. bene-
f.: by the suppression Of the zone
system which would enable a better
development Of trade and com
merce: at present a large portion of
the Savoyards arc, to all intents
and purposes. separated from the
rest OF France by the present Gus
toms frontier.
When. after prolonged and fruit
less negotiations between the two
@nuntries. the French government
recently decided to establish a Gus
toms frontier along the political
boundary line without any further
discussion. there was considerable
Indignation in the Swiss press. For
the first time since the war a note
II bitter criticism was sounded in
such papers as the Journal de
Geneve. whose sympathy and er-
thUsfSsm for France throughout the
els hn~
shaken. In view of this bitterness.
which even French writer's acknowl-
edge to have a certain Justification.
negotiations have been resumed at
BerEs in order to find a suitable
rnnn rnnnise