Official communications Objekttyp: Group Zeitschrift: The Swiss observer : the journal of the Federation of Swiss Societies in the UK Band (Jahr): - (1974) Heft 1681 PDF erstellt am: 26.09.2021 Nutzungsbedingungen Die ETH-Bibliothek ist Anbieterin der digitalisierten Zeitschriften. Sie besitzt keine Urheberrechte an den Inhalten der Zeitschriften. Die Rechte liegen in der Regel bei den Herausgebern. Die auf der Plattform e-periodica veröffentlichten Dokumente stehen für nicht-kommerzielle Zwecke in Lehre und Forschung sowie für die private Nutzung frei zur Verfügung. Einzelne Dateien oder Ausdrucke aus diesem Angebot können zusammen mit diesen Nutzungsbedingungen und den korrekten Herkunftsbezeichnungen weitergegeben werden. Das Veröffentlichen von Bildern in Print- und Online-Publikationen ist nur mit vorheriger Genehmigung der Rechteinhaber erlaubt. 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Ein Dienst der ETH-Bibliothek ETH Zürich, Rämistrasse 101, 8092 Zürich, Schweiz, www.library.ethz.ch http://www.e-periodica.ch Official Communications COMPOSITION OF THE FEDERAL COUNCIL THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES IN 1974: AND ALLOCATION OF DEPARTMENTS: President of the National Council: Anton Muheim Political Department: Pierre Graber President of the Council of States: Kurt Bächtold Department of the Interior: Hans Hürlimann President of the Confederation: Ernst Brugger Department of Justice and Police: Kurt Furgler Vice-President of the Federal Council: Pierre Graber Military Department: Rudolf Gnägi Chancellor of the Confederation: Karl Huber Department of Finance and Customs: Georges-André Chevallaz President of the Federal Court: Hans Tschopp of Public Ernst Brugger President of the Federal Insurance Department Economy: Court: Theodor Bratschi Department of Transport, Communications and Energy: Willi Ritschard Ateiv /earAc/dress -Ï974 g/Ven by Ernsf Brugge/; Pres/denf of fbe Confederaf/on Dear Fellow-Citizens: All this will not be easy, for our It is traditional for the newly economic machinery is creaking more and elected President of the Confederation to more. First of all there is the convey to the Swiss people on the 1st of international monetary crisis, which has January the Federal Council's best wishes not yet been mastered. Next, there is for the year just beginning. It gives me inflation, which is partly forced on us by great pleasure to do this on behalf of all external factors and partly produced at and my colleagues: those who are leaving the home. The price rises benefit some Federal Council, those who are remaining harm others. They are thus bound to and also the newcomers who — eager for create new inflationary pressures, making break the action — will be taking up their duties it ever more difficult to vicious during the month of January. circle. There are no miracle cures to stop I believe that in 1974 we shall all this headlong movement. However, the need a little luck, good resolutions and measures which the Swiss people agreed to last at least confidence. The past year has brought extend on 2nd December will changes, and even upheavals, which enable us to put the brakes on. To give up indicate that we have reached a the struggle against price rises would have turning-point. We have experienced serious consequences; to develop a unparalleled economic development: in mentality which accepted inflation would 25 years our gross national product has be even worse. In fact, it would mean trebled, our exports have quintupled and that we were prepared to live at the and our average real income has more than expense of our economic future, for doubled. I know that many of my this, sooner or later, we should have to fellow-citizens do not think very highly pay the price. And now we have the position more difficult. In this of this development. But to all those who additional problem of petrol supplies. connection, I must emphasize how seek to disparage the value of economic Although the position is still somewhat sensible it was to maintain a productive achievement I should like to say one obscure, it would be as well to be agriculture, even in an era of industrial thing: if we wish to avoid social tensions, prepared for a world-wide diminution in expansion. Although they constitute only we must do everything in our power to energy supplies. Even if it is not seven per cent of the popülation, our maintain a productive economy. Indeed, absolutely out of the question that the farmers are able to grow on our soil without a solid economic basis it will be situation may become a little more nearly half of what we eat. impossible for us to absorb the enormous settled, the age of superabundance and All the shortages and restrictions I costs of the new AVS and of the so-called waste is finally over. As much from the have just mentioned show us where the "second pillar"; we shall no longer be point of view of quantity as of price, we limits actually are of the growth we have able to bear the considerable expenditure are confronted with obstacles which will heard so much about recently. In involve in increased protection of the not be easily surmounted. The events of addition to the restraints imposed on us environment, in country planning, in the the last few months have shown us how from outside, in our own country, too, extension of public education, in much we depend on other countries. This we are getting nearer and nearer to the sickness, insurance and in transport. All applies not only to petrol but to other limits of the possible. Think, for example, these burdens rest on our own shoulders raw materials, and especially to certain of the problems of land and the and we shall have to earn the money to foodstuffs which have become scarce and environment. In future we shall no longer pay for them before we can spend it. expensive and which make our supply be able to do anything we like simply 9 because it is possible and profitable. We UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN These figures are indicative of the shall have to give up many things which SWITZERLAND great interest taken by the Swiss nation in would have increased our standard of its universities. Each university is The high standard of intellectual because the will be too high. financially and administratively depen- living price life in Switzerland and the value attached Incidentally, we shall also have to do this dent on its cantonal Education by its people to education is perhaps best in the interests of the individual Department, but academically speaking illustrated by the fact that a population human-being, whose psychological there is complete research and teaching of something more than 6 million stamina has its limits too, and for whom liberty. The Swiss universities pursue a supports no less than seven universities, today's hectic tempo is not wholly good. generous policy towards foreign students two institutes of technology, a and in fact some 10,000 foreign students university-level school of economics and from more than 70 different countries Since 1 am speaking of the social sciences and a number of other, were the total of 45,000 registered individual, may I point out that every institutions at similar level. Education, among in 1971. No other country in the world diminution in economic growth makes like other sectors of public life, is has so high a percentage of foreign great demands on him. For every change Switzerland is a decentralized, since students. and every act of self-denial causes confederation of 25 culturally, anxiety, affects our living and working denominationally and linguistically habits, and requires discernment and a distinct member states or cantons. Each The 10 Swiss university-level spirit of solidarity. And are we capable of canton is autonomous in all education establishments facing to this? Are not too of us up many matters from compulsory schooling /n German-spea&ing .Swizer/anrt selfish, materialistic, indifferent and (usually lasting eight or nine years) to irresponsible? Indeed, twenty years of secondary and university training. The Basle, Berne and Zurich economic boom have not developed our cantons thus bear considerable responsi- Universities, the Zurich Federal Institute community spirit! We are past masters in bility as well as the associated obligations, of Technology and the St. Gall College of the art of defending the interests of principally consisting in the heavy finan- Economics and Social Science; individuals We and or groups. protest cial burdens involved in a modern educa- /n Frenc/r-speaicing Swifzer/anrt struggle fiercely against everything that tional system. does not suit our own purposes and However, this burden has now been Lausanne, Geneva, Neuchâtel and is sometimes we even act against our own somewhat alleviated by a law which came Fribourg Universities (Fribourg reason and judgment. Instead of into force on 1st January, 1969. During a bilingual, German and French) and the discussing things frankly, instead of prior transitional period, from 1966 to Lausanne Federal Institute of listening to other people's arguments and 1968, the Confederation had already Technology. seeking realistic solutions for the good of contributed 200 million francs to There are no university-level the whole country, we often adopt developing cantonal universities, and the institutions in the /rtiian-speafcing- parr o/ obstinate standpoints and defend new Act increases federal contributions Swiizer/anci. inflexible positions. Naturally, this to 1-5 million francs for the 1969—1974 While each university has its own attitude does not help us to master period.