Ext 6116/46(S) 'Secret Weekly Political Intelligence Summaries, nos 356-416, August 1946-November 1947' [‎106v] (212/978)

10
deliver gold for international payments, as
well as for the legitimate use of Swiss
industry and manufactures.
On the 8th September, at Berne, a dele
gation from the Swiss Farmers’ and
Milk Producers’ Union was received by
Dr. Etter, President of the Confederation,
M. Stampfli, head of the Department of
Public Economy, and M. Nobs, head of the
Department of Finance.
The farmers are asking for increases in
the prices of milk, bread grains, potatoes,
sugar beet and stock for slaughter. The
prices of these bread grains and potatoes
have already been raised a little, but there
are difficulties as regards stock and milk.
The abnormal drought has caused great
loss to farmers, so that some increase is
likely—and is not without justification—
but it is, not unnaturally, opposed by the
manufacturers.
The reservoirs are also very low because
of the dry season, and an official
communique was issued in Berne on the
10th September, announcing restrictions
in the use of electricity and asking users
of electricity to use other fuel as much as
possible. Only very heavy rain in the near
future can stave off a great shortage of
electrical power during the coming winter.
On the 6th and 7th September the Swiss
Conservative Party held a meeting at Zug,
when the Central Committee laid down the
programme for the coming election for the
National Council and for the policy of the
Party during the next four years. In the
course of his speech on foreign policy Dr.
Etter declared that Switzerland was now
less isolated than ever before, though not
one of the United Nations, she stood beside
them and took her place at all international
discussions. She must never, however,
abandon her neutrality. In his opinion
the countries of the world now regarded
neutrality in a new light and were relieved
to feel that there was still one land where
thoughts of peace were uppermost and
justice seemed more important than power.
On the 8th September, the European
Parliamentary Union, founded by Count
Richard Coudenhove-Kalerghi, held its
opening meeting at Gstaad. Among the
150 deputies of the various Parliaments,
there were a great many well known figures,
including MM. Paul Reynaud, Edmond
Michelet, de Menthon, Francisque Gay
(French Delegates); Georges Bohy (Bel
gian); Ernest Boerlin (Swiss); Enzo
Giacchero, Guglielmo Giannini (Italian);
Leon Maccas (Greek); as well as an all
party delegation from the United King
dom. M. Boerlin welcomed the delegates
to Switzerland, and Count Coudenhove-
Kalerghi, the Secretary-General, began his
speech by paying a tribute to the memory
of M. Aristide Briand, who tried in 1930
to set up a United States of Europe. He
concluded by saying that they would first
try to form all over Europe Parliamentary
majorities in favour of federation |fed
which would place this loyalty before party
considerations. Nuclei of such groups, he
said, already existed in various countries.
ITALY
The instruments of ratification of the
Italian Peace Treaty were deposited in
Paris on the 15th September by the repre
sentatives of France, Great Britain, the
United States and the U.S.S.R. The
Italian -instrument of ratification was
tive in Paris, Signor Quaroni. Special
tary-General of the French Ministry for
Foreign Affairs by the Italian Representa
tive in Paris, Signor Quaroni. Special
messages on the entry into force of the
Treaty have been sent by Mr. Attlee,
Mr. Bevin and Field-Marshal Viscount
Alexander to Signor De Gasperi, Count
Sforza and Signor Cingolani, Minister of
Defence, respectively.
Mr. Attlee refers to the traditional
Friendship between Great Britain and
Italy and to his hope of a period of helpful
co-operation between the two countries.
Mr. Bevin emphasizes the part which Italy
has to play in the councils of the world and
the need for her skill and industry in the
task of hastening the economic recovery of
Europe. He also refers to the fact that
certain provisions of the Treaty seem to
many Italians unjust and onerous and
adds that “with good will on all sides
these matters can receive consideration.”
Field-Marshal Alexander's message of
good will is specially directed to ‘ ‘ all those
Italians who so gallantly assisted the
Allied cause, whether by fighting during
the campaign or by granting protection to
escaped British prisoners of war and other
actions behind the enemy lines.” Italians
have always felt that these activities
received too little recognition compared
with that given to underground movements
in other countries, and the Field-Marshal’s
message is therefore likely to be particu
larly warmly welcomed.
On the north-east frontier of Italy the
withdrawal of the Allied Forces behind the
provisional Italo-Yugoslav border took
place during the night of the 15th-16th
September in order to allow the Yugoslav
and Italian troops to move up to their