Confidential report from Francis T. Cremins to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)
(S.Gen.1/1) (Confidential)

With reference to previous reports regarding the general situation,¹ I have to state, for the information of the Minister, that public opinion remains calm here, and, as was to have been expected, the spirit and morale of the people continues high. It is clear that all steps have been taken by the authorities to carry out and maintain the policy of the strictest neutrality, but it is manifest also that the general sympathy of the population is with the country which is regarded as offering resistance to aggression. Generally speaking, the newspapers present reports of political and military events with the greatest objectivity, which does not however prevent the commentaries from being occasionally surprisingly outspoken.

With attention for the most part now focussed on the east of Europe, there is not much at present in the situation to excite opinion here. If and when however, and it may be in the near future, Germany is in a position to turn her eyes seriously westwards, I have no doubt that the situation may again be serious for small countries at the ends of the Maginot line. The position of Roumania may also prove to be interesting.

So far as Geneva is concerned, life is naturally much quieter than usual, with so many men withdrawn for military service. There is no shortage of food, and people are using their reserve stocks of those commodities such as sugar, rice,

certain cereals, etc. which have been temporarily withdrawn from the market. The restaurants function as usual. Petrol has been rationed during the past couple of weeks - sixty litres a fortnight are allowed - and apparently this will be continued, and since yesterday automobiles are not permitted to circulate on Sundays or

holidays, exceptions being of course provided for. There have been no blackouts at night so far, but the lighting of the town has been reduced, and France, across the lake, seems to settle down each evening into complete darkness.

I am sending with separate minutes copies of the multifarious laws and decrees which are being brought into force by the Federal Authorities to meet the situation in which Switzerland finds itself.² These bear on many subjects, for example, neutrality and maintenance of neutrality; organisation of war economy; use of wireless stations; limitation of exports; insurance of transports against war risks; prices and cost of living; grinding of corn, etc.; provisional rationing of petrol and oil; entry of aliens, etc. etc. The bringing into force of compulsory service for work of national importance is especially interesting. This has been rendered necessary of course by the withdrawal of labour for military service.

I am told that the Federal people are in a much better position than they were during the previous war to make provision for all the possibilities, and that they are this time putting immediately into practice the lessons which they learned during the period 1914-1918. It has been arranged that much of the provisioning of the country will be effected through Italy, but naturally that arrangement might have to be modified if Italy entered the war.

The League and the International Labour Office continue to function as best they can, but it is clear that there will be, almost immediately, further reductions

of staff and large economies. At present the Institutions, like the Government representatives here, are waiting on events. I presume that I will shortly receive instructions on the various points which I raised in previous minutes. I am sending you a diplomatic bag today, though I do not know when it is likely to reach you. I understand that it will go from here to Basle. I have received no correspondence from Dublin since the war commenced, but for the past couple of days, newspapers and private letters are dribbling in.

There have been 600 or 700 people of British nationality, and many of other nationalities, stranded here for the past week or so. There are also 3 or 4 Irish, Mrs. Reid, of Elgin Road, Dublin, and her son Noel Reid, and a Miss de la Hoide and a Miss Lecky-Watson of Dublin. Mr. W. McConnell of Dublin was here until Saturday when he left to return to Dublin by Germany and Holland. He had been in Germany and Budapest when the war broke out. The British Consul here - Mr. Livingston - has arranged with the French authorities for a special train which will leave Geneva on Wednesday, 13 September at 2.06 p.m. and run direct to a French port. The journey will take from 36 to 48 hours, and I understand that a boat will be available to take the travellers to England. The Irish will also travel on this train as the British Consul will include them in the general visa which he has arranged for the party instead of the individual military visas at first insisted upon for all travellers by the French authorities. Before accepting people with Irish passports the Consul asks me to vouch for the persons concerned. This is a precaution against I.R.A. activities. He states that the precautions being taken are very stringent. Mr. Peter Mortished, son of Mr. Mortished,³ will also travel with the party as he is returning to college in Dublin. The British Consul advances money where necessary to pay fares, subsistence, etc., on a signed undertaking being given to refund the amounts later.

The outbreak of war has disillusioned many people here: the leftists who feel that Russia has let them down, and those who held that it was only necessary to stand up to Hitler to preserve peace. There are few now who would seriously argue that once a nation like Germany was allowed to re-arm, a constructive - Article 19 - policy, in addition to a strong - Article 16 - policy, became immediately necessary.⁴ It was a question for the Powers chiefly concerned of treating with Germany and others, in time, or eventually having to fight them. This constructive policy was always urged at Geneva by the Minister. Some people continue to argue that armed resistance should have been put up in September last, but the progress in Poland in a week is some indication of what the fate of Czechoslovakia would have been with its defences turned by the annexation of Austria and its Slovaks and the rest; apart from the better state of general preparedness which the interval has brought to the Western Powers.

[signed] F.T. Cremins