The country inhabited by the Swiss is called Switzerland. In Germany it is called ‘Schweiz’. It occupies mountainous terrain, interspersed with lowland areas, and is bordered by three countries: France, Italy and Germany. It has a federal system of government. The original twenty-two cantons of Switzerland have now, as a result of subdivision, become twenty-five. They are grouped into three regions. German is spoken in the north-east, French in the north-west and Italian in the south. Under an agreement of 1848, the central government is located in the city of Berne. The office of president is held by one of the seven members of the executive government. The president in the year of our visit was [Paul] Cérésole.

All Switzerland's national policies are determined by three objectives: to safeguard the country's rights; to refrain from interfering with the rights of other countries; and to prevent other countries from interfering with Switzerland's rights. In order to strengthen Switzerland's autonomy, education is encouraged and flourishes particularly in the German speaking region. Because education is so widespread, the people of this country are reputed to be the most civil, the best-informed and the most diligent at their occupations. An unending stream of students come to study at Swiss universities rather than going to those of larger, better known countries.