The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-05-26
TREND OF WORLD AFFAIRS
Prepared by
Augusta Thruston

Recent happenings in Europe
center attention on an important
kquestion, the neutrality of Switzer-
land. Situated between central and
western changes on the map of
Europe, Switzerland sees with some
anxiety, perhaps, that most of the
recent changes on the map OF
Europe have been the result of
force. The Swiss government and
people, however are inclined to con-
slider their position as neutrals still
intact. Swiss neutrality conceived by
the Swiss themselves as an absolute
form has been subject to criticism
from time to time but Switzerland
has been able to defend its own con-
ception of neutrality against out
side interference.
Swiss principals and the Swiss
political system have been called the
simplest in Europe. They are aimed
to give the maximum freedom to the
individual citizen and the local gov
eminent. In foreign policy they
have practiced neutrality for more
than 100 years, interfering as little
as possible even by criticism in the
affaires of the neighboring nations.
These principles have carried the
Swiss people through many crises in
Europe without involving them in
war with their neighbors or
among themselves.
The Swiss were critized for not
Joining the League of Nations with
out great reservations and recogni-
ton of their unique position as a
neutral state in the heart of Europe.
They refused to have any part In
the military sanctions imposed by
the League and in 1898 notified the
League that Switzerland would no
| longer be able to take part in eco
nomic sanctions as that would risk
prejudicing the country's neutrality.
But the Swiss have found prac-
tical means for conducting their
lives and their government which
gives satisfaction to the majority OF
the people and which has preserv-
ed peace for many years.
In the beginning Switzerland had
variety of races, not always con-
genial, and variety OF economic
problems, as we'll as great differ
ences in wealth and culture. And
although the Swiss Confederation
was formed in an age of intolerance,
it has successfully met and solved
these problems. The Confederation
was formed chiefly on the principle
of tolerance-tolerance extended to
every form of religious and political
belief and has harbored many refu-
CESS from intolerance elsewhere.
Now the Swiss Confedation faces
severe test with Italy and Ger
many expanding by the method of
racialism. About 70 per cent Of the
Swiss population is of German orr
gin while about one fifteenth Is OF
Italian origin and the two isrger
countries might apply the method OF
racialism in an effort to break up
the Confederation into the racial
groups from which it originated.
But these people consider them
selves Swiss-not German or Italian.
Switzerland is reaping the results
of a century of tolerance practiced
towards it's own people. Attempts to
destroy Swiss unity fail because the
Confederation has been broadly toll
Grant to all its racial groups as well
as to all its social groups.
And now in this year Of uncer-
tainty in Europe the people OF
Switzerland are holding a National
Exhibition at Zurich for the first
time since 1914. The plan of the ex-
hibition is to reflect as clearly as
possible the life and character of
the inhabitants. 1t is intended to
instruct the Swiss people themselves
even more than foreign visitors, as
to the progress made in the last
quarter of century by industry,
commerce and professions and the
development of arts, sciences and
public education.
Every section has contributed and
the exhibits have been set out in
Zurich's beautiful parks, framed in
the hills rising from the lake with
the snow covered mountain peaks In
the distance.
The way of life worked out in
Switzerland and shown in the ex-
hibition is in the words OF Gilbert
Murray more adapted to human
happiness than any other of Europe,
not merely from it's beauty but be-
cause it is free from oppression and
cruelty, free from intolerance and
permeated by friendly spirit be-
tween man and man."