ABSTRACT
The hope of the old Confederation that, as a result of its abstinence in foreign policy, the whole of its territory should be exempt from war, could only find fulfilment if its neutrality was armed. For the time being, however, the Swiss were incapable of concerted action. The defence of the frontiers was left to the initiative of such individual members of the Confederation as felt themselves in danger. Hence the whole burden fell on the frontier cantons. Whether the others supported them or not was entirely a matter for their own discretion. The question of costs played a determining part here. In the proceedings of the Federal Diet of the time there is an endless succession of appeals for help from the frontier cantons and reluctant consents or evasions on the part of their fellow-members.
