Copyright (c) 1997 - Ingrid A. Rimland
"A few weeks ago, the so-called 'Eizenstat Report' was published in America. Prior to its publication, many politicians were trembling like rabbits confronted by a slithering snake. Critics within Switzerland were as pleased as small children. "Just wait 'til our big brother comes, then we'll show you", they threatened. And big brother came indeed!
Until then it had been both Swiss and foreign individuals, private organizations, and above all an American senator together with the head of the Jewish World Congress who had been ridiculing, disparaging, humiliating, threatening and demanding financial payments from our country. With the Eizenstat Report, the polemics have taken on new a dimension.
According to his report, Stuart Eizenstat, the American Special Envoy of the Department of State, received his mandate from President Clinton. In other words, he is officially pronouncing judgment on our country in the name of the American state.
Let me repeat: A foreign state has chosen to render judgment on our country. That is why this verdict must be subjected to especially close scrutiny.
Let me ask you: how can a foreign state even conceive of the idea of sitting in judgment on the more than fifty year old history of another sovereign state?
Conversely, what would happen in America if Federal Councillor Cotti would suggest to his Department of Foreign Affairs: "I have the feeling that before and after the Second World War and during the Vietnam War certain things went wrong for the Americans. Write a report for me so that I can give the Americans a helping hand in reappraising their history."
Contrary to every custom under international law, however, our Federal Council allows our diplomats to trot from one hearing to the next. Why does the Federal Council not repudiate, once and for all, this treatment of a sovereign state? And why does the Federal Council receive those representatives of private foreign organizations and associations, who have been constantly offending our country, like members of an official state delegation?
Eizenstat's summarizing commentary nevertheless, unburdened by historical fact, presents itself in a manner towards a foreign state which is schoolmasterish, smug, and highly presumptuous. Numerous of his so-called "insights" are devoid of any proof and even lack substantiation from the report itself. Contrary to advance notice, the introduction concentrates essentially on Switzerland and largely obscures the role of the Allies and of other neutral states.
Today Switzerland is being accused of the mistake of not having participated in the war. With all due respect for the immense contribution of the United States of America and its allies in liberating Europe, we must not forget that after the First World War, the U.S. was the leading mentor of the fateful Treaty of Versailles which in turn prepared the ground for the war in Europe which followed.
Shortly thereafter, the U.S. left Europe to its own devices, and even after the outbreak of the Second World War was still pursuing a policy of "non belligerency". Had the Japanese not attacked the United States at the end of 1941, this powerful nation would also have stayed out of the war.
One thing was clear at the time, and is still clear today: If we formulate our highest state maxim according to the will of foreign powers rather than the will of the Swiss people, our country as a sovereign state is lost!
We must make it clear anew to foreign countries that Swiss neutrality cannot be suddenly discarded or decisively changed without detrimentally affecting our entire national coexistence.
Once again it must be emphasized that Switzerland is a federalistically assembled association of cantons which formerly had far-reaching sovereignty. Our confederation is not held together by a common language nor common ethnic background, nor by a predisposed geography nor concurring religious denomination. It is held together solely by a common history which has been lived through together.
It is not very appealing to have the impression we were meant to be devoured."
Thought for the Day:
"It is in the nature of the gentile to fight for his honor; in the nature of the Jew to suffer for his."
(Maurice Samuel in "You Gentiles", page 128)