The Swiss and the Saar .
Switzerland is not 'cutting a very admirable figure in regard to the League of Nations just at present. Her opposition to the entry of Russia into the League was Carried to the point of factiousness. Her representative actually raised before the League Council on Tuesday, under the article of the Covenant referring to war or threats of war or to a good understanding between nations, a trifling and apparently quite untenable claim for damage sustained by Swiss citizens during the War. And now the Federal Council has refused to agree to the enlistment of individual Swiss recruits for the supple- mentary police force required for temporary service in the Saar between now and 'the plebiscite. The plea that to do so would compromise Swiss neutrality is puerile. The enlistment of Swiss citizens in a force designed to maintain order in a territory governed by the League of Nations is no more unneutral than the election of a Swiss chairman of the harbour-board at Danzig. The cause is pretty certainly German pressure, and the delight of the German Press at Switzerland's refusal is significant. The difficulties of the Saar Governing Commission, already great, will be made greater, for there are not many countries from which German-speaking recruits can be obtained. But Switzerland, no doubt, Would say that that is none of her business,—League member though she is.
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