Abstract

France and Switzerland's Neutrality

A neutral government must not take sides, must not allow itself to be made a moral or material force for one side rather than the other, must protect its own citizens in the liberty of their relations with both sides. There is a difference in neutrality towards all the Allies taken together and neutrality towards France. This means that France, in her relations with this or that neutral country, has to watch out for herself as well as for the cause of the Allies. France, and latterly Italy, have had to face the neutrality of Switzerland. From the beginning, the little republic showed what a certain kind of "preparedness" could do by putting its entire army-a formidable one-at its frontiers. Before France had mobilized, Switzerland was in a position to resist any attempt on the part of Germany to invade France through Swiss territory and vice-versa on the part of France.