SWITZERLAND: Revolutionaries’ Return

Russia’s ramifying political influence, which caused the resignation of Iran’s Premier Said last week, also forced out the Foreign Minister and President-elect of Switzerland — Marcel Pilet-Golaz.

Russia and Switzerland have had no diplomatic relations since 1918, when the Swiss expelled a Russian mission for fostering Communist strikes. Business be tween the two countries was brisk. But good will was. not increased when four years ago the Swiss Government cracked down on both the Swiss Communist Party and home-grown Nazis.

In those days Russia seemed far away.

Now that the war’s end is in sight, and Soviet influence is sure to be felt in Central Europe, Russia seems much closer. So for months, influential Swiss groups have been urging their reluctant Government to patch up its quarrel with Moscow.

A fortnight ago, dapper little Marcel Pilet-Golaz, who dresses like Anthony Eden, asked Russia to forget and forgive.

Replied the Kremlin: “For many years the Swiss Government . . . has been pursuing a hostile pro-fascist policy toward the Soviet Union.” (Russia had already pulled out of the International Aviation Conference “in Chicago because Switzerland, Spain and Portugal were invited.)

Foreign Minister Pilet-Golaz soon resigned. Said the Basel National Zeitung, organ of his own Radical Democratic Party: “Why have we been so slow? . . .” Said the socialist Berner Tagwacht: “Let . . . the Soviet Union not forget that it was Switzerland that sheltered Lenin and other Russian revolutionaries until 1917.”