FREEDOM OF THE SWISS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 100, 28 March 1939, Page 6

FREEDOM OF THE SWISS

The traditional freedom of Switzerland, a country that has for long stood as a symbol of free democracy, is being assailed. The dictator States are the culprits. Recently their Ministers to the Swiss nation demanded officially that the free Swiss Press should “modify its attitude” towards the Rome-Rerlin axis; in otherwords its traditional freedom should be surrendered and muzzled at the dictates of the Nazi and Pascist regimes. As a conciliatory measure the Government offered Germany a concession by placing restrictions on Swiss newspaper comment in regard to the Reich, but refused to submit to complete dictation from Berlin. Parts of Switzerland are inhabited by a Germanspeaking population, and though Berlin a year ago astounded the Swiss by solemnly informing them that Germany had no designs upon those areas, maps have been revealed showing contrary evil Nazi designs. This German-speaking- population is a positive danger to the Swiss nation whose authorities have been compelled to arrest Nazi agitators for their subversive propaganda. The manner in which Germany has increased her dominion in Europe has alarmed Switzerland who fears that, in the event of a European war, she might become a second Belgium. The French Maginot Line ends at a point five kilometres from the Swiss frontier. This is in accordance with an old agreement, but it leaves a dangerous gap near Basle through which a German army, violating- Swiss integrity, could make a sudden thrust at France. It will be recalled that in the last war Germany gave serious thought to an attack on France through Swiss territory. With Austria incorporated in the Reich Switzerland’s German frontiers have been very greatly increased and her strategic defences weakened. She has been compelled to speed up rearmament and strengthen her frontier defences. At present, owing to the international situation, bridges are being guarded and frontier mines loaded, evidence of Uie nation’s intention to defend its territory, as its army leader said, “to the last drop of their blood, for better death than slavery.”