The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-05-11

saved. After the tide of war had
averted this probable invasion, it was
still for Germany's advantage to
have neutral country near. The
Nazi government does not interfere
with the exercise of Swiss democracy
which being neutral, does not probe
the lives of foreign nationals. There
fore German agents operating in
belligerent countries can meet in
Berne, Lausanne, and other cities to
transfer information.
The major reason, for not being
aggrandized is the lack of natural
resources. Industry is based on
personal ingenuity and social organ
ization rather than upon natural
advantages. As Switzerland's in
dustries turn out light and expensive
goods readily transported, they are
not adapted to heavy war production.
Most factories are financed by the
government, and the munitions are
manufactured directly by it.
Factory Bombed
One privately financed factory
supplied anti-aircraft guns to Ger
many at the beginning of hostilities,
but it stopped its output when Eng
lish bombers dropped few remind
ers upon it. Many industries refused
to sell goods to Germany. This
state of affairs, with the loss of the
tourist trade, has placed Swiss
economy on precarious basis.
The marvellous railway system in
the Alpine country is the only prop
erty of much use to Germany if it
were seized, as it would connect
Germany with Italy. As German
rail transportation between those two
countries may be hammered more
and more by Flying Fortresses, the
Nazis may try to commander Swiss
railroads. However the Simplon and
st. Gothard tunnels are the bottle
necks to any attempt at confscation.
These avenues could and would be
made impossible by the Swiss upon
movements toward seizure.
Because Switzerland is so depend
ent upon imported food, the Nazis
might not have been able to support
an army of occupation had they
invaded the little nation in
1910. Beside this theoretical con-
lecture, the refugee problem is an
actual problem. Prior to 1889 the
Swiss people had food reserves to
last six years. Refugees, even whole
detachments of French and Polish
armies, poured into the country and
are still coming. Feeding those
homeless people cut deeply into their
reserves. What the present condi-
tion of the food situation is now we
do not know.
Home of Red Cross
The fact that Switzerland has be-
come the center for the functions of
an embronic world government is
another advantage now for Germany
as it also is one for the Allies. The
Swiss have always been respected
| for their humanitarian deeds. The
international Red Cross was founded
there by Henri Dunant. 1t serves
all belligerents by being the con-
Meeting link between war prisoners
| and their homelands. This organ
ization is continuing as it did during
World War l, then under the leader
ship of Gustav Ador. We can ex-
pect Switzerland to play a very
important part in postwar affairs
just as she has done before.
The key to her respected neutrality
lies in the small, highly developed
democracy, Switzerland being the
oldest representative government in
the world. furthermore she has
adopted features of popular govern
ment, wide use of the referendum
and popular initiative.
One purpose of these instruments
is revision of the constitution. Re-
visions are made by referendum on
demand of $4,000 franchised citizens.
They are also employed in vetoing
unpopular laws passed by the FEEDER
al Assembly.
Other features are: the one-year
tenure of the presidency; and the
restriction of office-holders to just
one office without being allowed to
engage in any other occupation. The
cantons are gradually giving up
states rights. The Federal govern
ment is assuming more and more
responsibilities formerly held by the
cantons.