Declaration

Every war brings countless misfortunes upon Mankind. Every war brings
difficult moral dilemmas to thousands, yes, millions of people. This
applies especially to this war, which has spared no corner of the earth
and has been spread through the air, water and land. It is therefore
inevitable that in such times, not only individuals, but also communities
of every sort, unintentionally or deliberately are falsely suspected.

Even Jehovah's Witnesses have not been spared this fate. We have become
made out to be a association, the object or activity of which is
described as, "to undermine military discipline, especially to force or
mislead conscripts into insubordination against military orders, neglect
or refusal of duty, or becoming fugitives."

Such an opinion can only be put forwared by someone who completely
misunderstands the spirit and activity of our Society or who despite
his better knowledge, malevolently distorts it.

We expressly state, that our association neither commands nor recommends,
nor in any other way suggests, acting against military orders. Questions
of that sort are dealt with neither by our congregations nor in the
Society's published literature. We do not at all concern ourselves with
such questions. We view our business to be solely that of rendering a
witness to Jehovah God and to proclaim bible truth to all peoples.
Hundreds of our members and fellow believers have performed their
military duty and continue to do so.

We have at no time presumed and at no time shall do so, to view the
performance of military duty, as laid down by your statutes, as an
offence against the principles and aspirations of the association
of Jehovah's Witnesses. We beseech all our members and fellow
believers, in the proclamation of the message of God's Kingdom
(Matthew 24:14), to confine themselves strictly to the proclamation
of bible truth, and always to avoid giving grounds for misunderstanding,
and certainly never to be able to be misunderstood as offering any
incitement to insubordination against military orders.


Swiss Associaton of Jehovah's Witnesses 

President: Ad. Gammenthaler
Secretary: D. Wiedenmann

Berne, 15th September 1943.