dodis.ch/47861

Le Ministre de Suisse à Londres, P. Ruegger1, à l’Ambassade d’Union Soviétique à Londres2

AIDE-MÉMOIRE
OUTLINING THE SWISS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S VIEWS ON THE MATTER OF RELATIONS BETWEEN SWITZERLAND AND USSR

As regards the main-points, the views and intentions of the Swiss federal Council have been made public in the Swiss National Council on March 29th, 19443, given by the Chief of the federal political Department. This detailed declaration made on behalf of the federal Council met with the consent of the Swiss Parliament it determines as well as the preceding and following parliamentary discussions the lines along which the will of Swiss people has been expressed in accordance with the ancient democratic traditions of Switzerland.

From this it follows that:

1. Switzerland has the sincere desire to entertain normal relations based on the rules of international law and customs with all powers. Switzerland of course regrets circumstances which may have interrupted this general and normal intercourse. The Swiss Government and people are desirous of reestablishing normal relations with the USSR.

2. The Swiss federal Council feeling that they are acting according to the views and will of the Swiss people as expressed in their Parliament hold once direct relations are reestablished between the two powers it will be possible to place future relations between Switzerland and the USSR on a sound basis with a view to promoting understanding between the countries. They are of opinion that on this basis former and possibly still existing problems may be openly discussed and that an amicable and equitable solution can be reached.

3. Technical relations between Soviet Russia and Swiss administration respectively as regards postal, railway, telephonic, telegraphic and radio communications have never ceased between Soviet Russia and Switzerland except in so far as conditions of war have interfered with their working. Normal diplomatic relations would help to consolidate and to confirm in this field as well as in others favourable conditions which would eventually bring about a satisfactory state of affairs.

4. The return to normal relations has already been prepared by the trade agreement signed in Moscou on February 24th, 19414, when war broke out between Germany and Soviet Russia, commercial exchanges had to be discontinued for the time being but only in view of the practical impossibility of effecting trade exchanges. The Swiss federal Council consider the agreement to be still valid but merely suspended until trade exchanges will be again practically possible.

5. Existing relations would undoubtedly be improved if Swiss administrative and consular agents continue to act officially or inofficially as the case may be in countries and territories occupied or to be occupied by Soviet Russia for the protection of Swiss interests as well as of foreign interests entrusted to Switzerland with the consent of the powers concerned. In the view of the Swiss federal Council this would greatly contribute to the happy normalisation of relations between the two powers.

6. The federal Council hope that on the above aims relations may develop favourably and rapidly and that diplomatic relations by mutual consent of two countries may be resumed at a not distant date after the reopening of communications and transport between Switzerland and the Allied powers. Diplomatic relations having been resumed on the basis of mutual recognition of existing legislation in both countries, Switzerland would also welcome the interest taken by Russia in the problems of reconstruction, of to-morrow problems which Switzerland being a landlocked country with extensive overseas trade relations also follows in accordance with the policy pursued by her.