811.04418/466: Telegram

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

61. Your circular telegram July 2, 2 p.m. Switzerland’s sole aim in an eventual conflict is to remain neutral and it is determined to defend its neutrality at all costs. Swiss official circles therefore exercise great care to avoid doing or saying anything which might be construed as taking sides in the present European alignment. Consequently it is extremely difficult to obtain an expression of opinion from Swiss officials regarding the action of the House of Representatives concerning the neutrality legislation. With the exception of one editorial in Journal de Geneve which is almost entirely explanatory, the Swiss press has been completely reticent on the subject.

While Swiss public opinion undoubtedly welcomes recent declarations by Great Britain and France and hopes that they will prove a deterrent against further aggression it is undoubtedly generally believed that an important if not the most important factor in preventing further aggression would be the conviction on the part of the aggressors that the United States would not remain indifferent in the event of a clash between the aggressor and peace loving nations. A disposition on the part of the Congress in giving warning to aggressors [Page 668] that the United States would as has been proposed facilitate the extension of material aid to peace loving nations would I am convinced be unofficially but warmly welcomed here as an important perhaps vital factor in the maintenance of world peace. The advance knowledge that peace loving nations might not be able to count on this aid cannot but prove a source of satisfaction to aggressors as has been evidenced by press reports of comments in their newspapers.

The effect if any of the vote last Friday on the policy of Switzerland could I believe only be to strengthen its determination to accelerate military preparations for the defense of its neutrality.

Harrison