Abstract
Switzerland and the principle of non-intervention in international law during the Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902 The outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War on 11 October 1899 hit the world like a bomb blast. The news of the war produced strong anti-British sentiments in certain quarters: not only did poets, writers and politicians of international stature, as well as the press, exert strong influence on the public, nations also pressurised their governments to side against Britain. This article investigates the complex position of Switzerland in terms of its official policy of non-intervention in the international world. The following concomitant aspects are also investigated: the pressure exerted on Swiss authorities to express sympathy with the Boer Republics; the growing awareness of the humanitarian implications of Britain’s scorched-earth policy of massing together the civil population of the Boer Republics, and the resultant pleas to stop these methods of warfare. The Swiss position of non-intervention in international affairs was severely tested in its efforts to remain legally neutral in the international arena. Switzerland’s decision to remain neutral in the war, was finally determined by various factors in the sphere of inter-national law and politics. The developments in Switzerland during the war reflect the transition from positivism towards a stronger humanitarian spirit in international law and politics.
Highlights
Die uitbreek van die Anglo-Boereoorlog op 11 Oktober 1899 het die wêreld soos ’n skokgolf getref
Switserland se besluit om in die oorlog neutraal te bly is in die laaste instansie deur verskillende faktore in die sfeer van die internasionale reg en politiek bepaal
Tweedens is Switserland se standpunt aangaande internasionale konflik, waarin die belange van burgerlikes ter sprake gekom het, grootliks gelei deur die invloed van positivistiese denkwyses in Andries Raath die internasionale reg in die tweede helfte van die 19de eeu
Summary
Die beginsel van neutraliteit in Switserland se internasionale verhoudinge was aanvanklik die produk van pragmatiese denke oor non-intervensie in die internasionale arena. Eerstens moet die Switserse rol in die internasionale regsverkeer tydens die laaste helfte van die 19de eeu beoordeel word teen die agtergrond van Brittanje se dominante rol in die internasionale wêreld (Raath & Strydom, 1999:149-151). Vanweë Brittanje se leidinggewende rol as internasionale moondheid teen die einde van die 19de eeu, is internasionale verhoudinge grootliks bepaal deur Brittanje se standpunte (Raath & Strydom, 1999:150). Tweedens is Switserland se standpunt aangaande internasionale konflik, waarin die belange van burgerlikes ter sprake gekom het, grootliks gelei deur die invloed van positivistiese denkwyses in. Die gevolg was dat Switserland se regs- en politieke standpunte oor die oorlog in Suid-Afrika sterk deur genoemde faktore beïnvloed is. Die amptelike Switserse standpuntinnname oor die oorlog moet gesien word as ’n kompromie van genoemde drie oorwegings, wat in bepaalde opsigte ’n duidelik pragmatiese benadering oor internasionale geskille verraai het
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