THE SMALLEST COUNTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1926, Page 4

THE SMALLEST COUNTRY

STILL AT WAR AVITfi GERMANY

According to international law, tbe little Republic of San Marino is still in a state of war with Austria and Germany, although the peace treaties between the Allies and the Central Powers were signed six years ago. 'I lie United States was nominally at war with Germany for two years after peace had been signed-by the Allies, but that was liecause the American Senate refused to ratify the peace treaty with Germany which President ‘Wilson had signed on behalf of the United States. It was not until two years later that the United States concluded a separate peace with Germany. But San Marino was never asked to sign any of the peace treaties between the Allies and the. Central Powers, although she participated in the war on the side of the Allies. jTct citizens fought and fell on the Italian front, and she equipped a war hospital at an Italian base. But the Hepublic of San Marino is so small that when the peace treaties wore drawn up she was not asked to send a representative to Paris-. San Marino takc-s pride in the Tact that she is the smallest State in the world. The country is situated a lew miles inland on the western side ol the Adriatic, and is entirely surrounded bv Italian territory. It has an area of 36 square miles, and a po|>u- , , ■ ..c m nr\rt Tli/> r*i+.v <)t S«UI

lotion ot r-',wi'. ■> oe mm M . .. 'Marino, which is the capital, is built on the northern extremity of Alount Titnnus. a precipitous rock rising -.AM feet above sea level. The republic is Governed by a great council ot sixtv members, of whom 20 represent the nobility, twenty the land-owneis a twenty the citizens. The Council elects two captains ' K ■ who hold office for only six One of these captains repent excic sis executive powers over the aeneultui. 1 population, and the other over the urban population. ' l,O y i, no public debt, and until alu the war it had no income tax. Its mini expenditure is bclou £o>.oo, yea r.

U KCO( iMISKO I’.V (TREAT HO AYERS. The. iudepeiulenee of San ATar.no is recognised .by the groat powers ol the world Naturally the republic is moi( closely associated, with Italy than au> of the other powers hut she has Minister to represent her m la . . < -• a consul-general to represent he. m London. She has entered into ext . - dition treaties with Great R> ;Un 15-el pi urn. Holland and the 1» States If there were no extradition t realms. San Marino would provide . convenient sanctuary in vine!. ahseouders could find relugo Irom tin h - their own countries. San Ala.. o has always prided herself on we comji..r refugees from oppression hi t ■ •I-- not wclcoimj when in'So-i"ltalian Communists took el me in her territoriy to escape irom the Fascisti. Only a couple ot hundred Communists crossed into • ■ A a'rino territory, had as the republics S’'.' force consisted of gendarmes imicl seven eiirahmceis ; to borrow some carabineers Irom t. . t„ enable her to keep order. Tourists seldom visit San Alamo iJn.L it is out of the beaten tracu, «-»> «>!' n "’- V ';;;i ,U:l py ( iv 'nude' Vdi- : l > P hlSu S tl,c tes oM>. and is liable' to he called up to deleml his

country, but the standing army is small, as may be gathered from the fact that 23400 covers the annual military expenditure. '1 he King e.i Italy presented the republic with a battery of artillery, but the- puns have been placed in" the San Marino museum. The country exports wine, cereals, cheese, oil and cattle, hut a respect•able portion of its revenue is derived from the sale of stamps. The demand by philatelists all over the world for San Alnrino stamps exceeds the ordinary demands of the local population—most of whom are illiterate.