The more important events in Swiss history of recent years may be briefly summarized. On the last day of 1898 Switzerland was admitted by the United States as a favored nation. In 1900 the nation rejected the "double initi ative," a scheme to elect members of the Na tional Council by proportional representation. The new palace of the Swiss parliament was opened in 1902. In the same year a brief rup ture with Italy occurred. Agreements were arrived at during 1903 for the construction of the Jura and Simplon tunnels; a new army bill was passed in 1907, when a British military commission arrived at Basel to study the Swiss army system. In 1908 the sale and manufacture of absinthe were entirely prohibited in the country. During 1909 and 1910 serious dam age was caused by floods and avalanches. Pro gressive industrial development calls for a large supply of labor which Switzerland is unable to supply; becoming every year less of an agricultural country, large quantities of food have to be imported, while the number of factory hands has more than doubled in 25 years. The population of the country districts shows little increase; that of the towns is growing rapidly, mainly due to foreign immi gration from Italy, France and, above all, from Germany. During the European War the po sition of Switzerland was one jf extreme diffi culty. Need of coal and iron compelled the republic to enter into agreements with the Central Powers to supply them with foodstuffs. Besides maintaining its army on a war footing for the duration of the war, Switzerland be came a clearing-house for the refugees, wounded and prisoners of all the belligerents, while international diplomats and exiled rulers made it their headquarters. A noteworthy statement of Swiss policy was made in a memo randum presented in February 1919 by the Federal Council to the Peace Conference in Paris. In this document special emphasis is laid on Swiss neutrality, which "is not chosen according to circumstances, but is permanent" —a fundamental prindple of the Swiss state since the beginning of the 16th century. alks in the past, so in the future, Switzerland must remain the faithful guardian of the passes of the Alps. . . . When all relations between the belligerents were broken off, Switzerland was able, thanks to its neutrality, to undertake the grateful task of carrying out a philan thropic activity which saved the world from an accentuation of its sufferings?) Switzerland %%deemed the creation of a League of Nations and, as the oldest of existing republics, cwould deem it an hone: to bring into the League of Nations the experience acquired in the course of centuries?) The determined insistence on neutrality by Switzerland—except in case of self-defense—places that country in a peculiar position with regard to the League of Nations. As pointed out by Professor Borgtaud in a pamphlet, 'La Stusse et la Societe des Nations) (Geneva 1919), neutrality implies sovereigntY, a principle inconsistent with the general spirit of the League—unless, indeed, the.League it self concedes this privilege for speaal interna tional reasons. In a remarlcable speech deliv ered before the National Council in August 1918 President Calonder first called attention to this point; though supporting intervention to end the war, he declared that Swiss neutrality pre vented Switzerland from forcing itself as a peacemaker. Sturdy independence, freedom of
action and avoidance of foreign entanglements or obligations is the keynote of the Swiss Re public. In a state paper dated 15 Nov. 1690 occurs this passage (in French) : 0The Swiss have two religions in their country, which di vide them at times; but they have only .one litierty, which they cherish above all: this re unites them always, and will reunite them for ever?) Bibliography.—(For Alps see that head) — Adams and Cunningham, 1The Swiss Con federation' (London 1899); Affolter, A., (Grundziige des Schweizerischen Staatsrechts' (Zurich 1904); Baedeker's (Switzerland) (Lon don 1913) • Baker F. G., (The Model Re public: A 'History of the Rise and Progress of the Swiss People) (London 1895) ; Benson, E F., (Winter Sports in Switzerland) (New York 1913); Brooks, R. C., (Government and Politics of Switzerland) (ib. 1918); Cadby, W., (Switzerland in Winter) (ib. 1914); Cameron, C. F., (Switzerland) (London 1918); Clerget, P. (La Suisse au XXe Siecle) (Paris 1908) ; Ceoper, J. Fenimore, 'Sketches of Switzerland) (Philadelphia 1836) ; Crawford, V. M., (Switzerland of To-Day' (London 1911) ; Dindliker, Dr. K.,. (A Short History of Switzerland) (New York 1899); Dauzat, (La Suisse illustre' (Paris 1914) ; Dawson, W. H.,