File No. 763.72/3294

The Minister in Switzerland ( Stovall) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

501. Referring to my telegram No. 488 of February 5, noon.1 I have received from Dr. Hoffmann, Chief of the Swiss Political Department, a supplementary and definitive reply to my note of February 4. The following is a translation of this reply:

Mr. Minister: By my note of February 5,1 I had the honor to inform your excellency that before determining definitely in regard to the declarations of the German Government relative to the blockade, the Swiss Federal Council desired to enter into communication with the other neutral states of Europe which are in situation analogous to that of Switzerland. I added that the Federal Council desired first to draw the attention of President Wilson to Switzerland’s peculiar attitude prescribed by its principles as a state of complete and perpetual neutrality, principles founded on its constitution, on ancient traditions, and on the will of its people.

The Federal Council today can only refer to Switzerland’s declaration of neutrality dated April [August] 4, 1914, of which all foreign governments were informed at the time of its promulgation. On that date the Federal Assembly and the Federal Council announced their firm determination not to deviate in any manner whatsoever from the principles of neutrality, so highly cherished by the Swiss people and in such perfect conformity with their aspirations, with their institutions, with Switzerland’s situation in regard to other states, and which the guaranteeing powers expressly recognized in 1815. This is the reason the Federal Council and the Federal Assembly have expressly declared that, during the duration of the war, the Swiss confederation will maintain and will defend its neutrality and the inviolability of its territory by all the means in its power.

The events of the present war have fortified the Federal Council in its conviction of the necessity for the maintenance of a strict and loyal neutrality and have furnished the proof that, today as in 1815, the true interests of European politics are furthered by the entity and independence of Switzerland. Switzerland will maintain this neutrality so long as the independence and integrity of its territory, its honor, and its vital interests are not attacked.

The Federal Council must again draw the attention of President Wilson to the unusual geographical situation of Switzerland entirely [Page 128] surrounded by belligerents, and which would certainly become the moment that Switzerland ceased to be neutral, the theater of the general war.

Regardless of how difficult Switzerland’s economic situation may become because of the threatened blockade and regardless of the degree in which the effective execution [of] the blockade may run counter to the principles of international law, the Federal Council can not however decide to follow President Wilson in his demarches regarding the Imperial German Government which have been made necessary by a state of affairs entirely special. Consequently the Federal Council has confined itself to a protest and has reserved all its legal rights resulting from the execution of the blockade announced by the Imperial Government should this blockade prove to be contrary to neutral rights as recognized by the general principles of international law. In particular the Federal Council has reserved all its legal rights in the event that the effective execution of the blockade proving incomplete, should the means used by Germany and its allies result in the destruction of Swiss citizens or of Swiss property.

In submitting the present communication to your excellency in reply to your note of February 4, 1917, I take this occasion to present to you assurances of my high consideration. Hoffman

Stovall
  1. Not printed.
  2. Not printed.