Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-04
in AMERICA TO WORK
FOR BELG|AN COLONY
Dugald Macfadyen Wants Homes for
Million and Half OF
Refugees.
IMMIGRATION LAWS IN WAY
Appeals to Charitable Sentiments Of
United States to Obtain Action by
Congrcss-Plenty of Available
Land in West and South.

WASHINGTON. January 3.--Plans to
give permanent relief to the million
and half of Belgian refugees cut of
by war from their native land by es-
tablishing communities Of them in .he
unoccupied sections of tho west and
South Is now proposed.
Dugald Afacfadyen has come to this
country with letters Of introduction
from Viscount Bryce and George
Prothero to further this plan of refuge
He has been. In conference with the
Belgian legation here and with promi :
nent philanthropists
The Belgian minister being without
instructions from his homo govern
ment. cannot support this project. but
is In sympathy with eli efforts for the
relief OF his suffering countrymen lie
appreciates that the Belgian govern
rr,cnt does not want to support any
effort TO break up the nationality Of
Belgium. but hopes to have the refu-
gees all return to reconstruct the coun-
try now swept by war.
The supporters OF the Belgian com
munity immigration plan point out tina t
these refugees, already driven out of
their country. could be given homelil1e
life In this new land by having neigh
bors Of their own nationality and &C.
cupation. 1t provides for an. oppor-
tunity for them to support themselves.
rather than to be dependent upon the
continued charity of Americans. 1t
provides for bringing the native indus
tries OF Belgium Into the United States
and giving an Industrious class of citi
Zcns to populate unoccupied and un-
productive areas.
IhoSe supporting this move. however,
hnd that the immigration laws do not
provide for such an emergency. and
they are interested in arousing public
sympathy to make such large and
nj mi, IL.
In discussing the plans for immigra
ton OF the Belgian refugees In com
munities to the United States Mr..
Macfadycn said:
Starvation Only Postponed
IT must be evident to people Of
America that ut present Belgian relief
is only postponing from day to day
the pressure of starvation
Among tie refugees in London
there are many who can think or no
future except Il return to Belgium and
an attempt to rebuild their homes,
which have been ruthlessly destroyed.
others arc looking for an opening in
4 new land
he Belginn people are. rs Il whole
as thrifty. clean. Industrious and will
ing workers as any that are found in
Europe. But they are essentially a
community-folk. If they come over
here as individual waits ana stravs
they will probably succumb to the
strangeness Of their new SURROUNDINGS
drift into the foreign quarters or
large cities. and add fresh element
to an overstocked market for casual
labor. IL they could come over as
Observation-Disclosures. shopke con-
ers. clerks. Observation-Disclosures ana
handworkers together In something
like tleir old relationships. they
would find 1t much easier to make
good and they would probably add n
much more positive and useful element
TO the life OF the United StnScs
Such migration OF communities to
America would not seriously Interfere
with the repopulation OF Belgium when