SWITZERLAND’S PLACE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21979, 25 March 1946, Page 4

SWITZERLAND’S PLACE

WORLD ORGANISATION BAR TO PARTICIPATION When the Covenant of the League of Nations was drawn up in 1919 a list of the countries invited to accede to it was annexed. These included Switzerland. No such list appears as an annex to the Charter of the new World Organisation, writes H. G. Daniels in the Contemporary Review, of London. Instead it is stated in article three of the Charter that membership is open to all (other) peace-loving States which “accept the obligations contained in the Charter and in the judgment of the organisation are able and willing to carry out these obligations.” Articles two. three, 41, 42, and 43 of the Charter show plainly that its spirit and text are opposed to a fundamental neutrality, such as is, and has been for 500 years, the corner-stone of Swiss foreign policy. Members of the World Organisation tire bound to give the United Nations any assistance in any action taken and to refrain from giving assistance to any State against which the United Nations are taking preventive or enforcement action.

The action thus contemplated includes military and economic sanctions, the severance of communications and diplomatic relations, contributions and contingents to serve with the forces of the world organisation, and the right of passage. All these are contrary to the terms of the Swiss Neutrality Act, and would seem to be a bar to Swiss participation in the organised maintenance of peace under the Charter.