New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-03
REL CLAN MIGRATION TO AMERICA
Plea from Distinguished English Visitor for
Emergency Legislation

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The sympathy shown in the United States
for the disnherited BegianS is of the finest in
ciderts which have marked the progress of the Euro
pean war Money has been forthcoming in album
dance The food sent Brussels has kept thousands
from starvation. In every city, town and village
which have visited in the United States there are
skilful fingers at work knitting sewing to provide
clothing for the destitute families of the disinhered
people This outburst of Humanitarian sympathy
deserves the fullest recognition. But must be evi-
dent TO people so thoughtful farseeing and practi-
cal as the people of America that az present Belgian
relief is only postponnG from day 20 day the press
ure of starvation and many must already have asked
the question What next? The question is one which
is being asked in many quarters that some con
siderations bearing on it may be found useful.
/ Among the refugees in London there are many
who can think Of future except return to Bel
GUM and attempt TO rebuild their homes, which
have been ruthlessy destroyed. But this Is not the
mind of the younger men. They are inclined to say,
I'VE have everything we cared for and worked
for destroyed. We must begin life again somewhere
and we mean to begin where the fruits of our work
will not be taken from One experience such as
have had is enough for a lifetime. Our eyes are
turning now TO the world as the land OF hope
for US Is there any way of getting start there"
2. The Belgian people are, as whole, as thrifty
Clean industrious and willing workers as any that
are found in Europe. But they essentially a
community folk They have not the kind of indie
pendence which maks the Scot an ideal emigrant, or
the unfang humor which makes the lrishman at
home everywhere. If they over here as indi-
vidual waits and strays they will probably succumb
TO the strangeness of their surroundings drift
into the foreign quarters of large cities and add
"A fresh element to overstocked market for casual
labor. If they could come over communities
agrcuturists, shopkeepcrs, clerks teachers, head
workers and handworkers together in something like
their old relationships would find it much cas-
Ter to make good" and they would probably add a
much more positive and useful element 20 the life
of the United States
l 9. Such a migration of communities to America
would not seriously interfere with the repopuation
of Belgium when that becomes possible Belgium
was a densely populated country about equal to
Massachusetts, and one-thrd more dense pOpu-
lation live on a narrow strip OF ground when it
grows there but once disturbed, il is very difficult 70
get it back It will be many years before Belgium
is in a condition TO support the number Of
people as il maintained before the war While we
are waiting for that there Is almost time
a new Belgium this side of the Atlantic If, on
The other hand, the Kaiser succeeds in keeping any
part of Belgium for his German subjects, the Bel
gans will not want to return TO bear foreign yoke
nor will they be wanted by the Germans except to
pay heavy taxes.
There are in the Southern States in the West
and in Canada considerable tracts OF land which
might be used for Belgian settlements. There are
also many patriotic and phianthropic Americans
ready TO advance capital with the object of securing
a pied terre for the Belgians, and the time
adding a valuable element to the population of the
United States They know that if the Belgans come
here they will bring with them their skill, indus
try and proficiency in such arts flower culture lace
making glass manufacture and the thrifty habits Of
Continental civilization.
s. But at the present there is obstacle to this
happy consummation-the immigration laws These
laws were not passed for such emergency this.
They did not contemplate the possibility of a COM
munity migration, and at present they efcctually
close the door of hope to those who would like TO
help the Belgians TO begin again. A. the present
moment a new immigration law is under discussion.
It would be easily possible TO add such clause or
clauses to the law would allow a regulated and
properly financed immigration of Belgian commune
ties TO the States if there any popular mandate
for such an alteration. Here the people are the
source of law and il remains for them TO give ex-
preston TO their humanitarian sympathies in such
way as 10 make these sympathies really effective in
helping distressed people. The situation is one
without precedent in history. There is no parallel
available showing what should be done with a popu-
lation Of a million and half suddenly divorced from
rs home, it's work and its means of livelihood. l.
IL not an occasion worthy Of American initiative as
we'll as American philanthropy?
DUGALD MACFADYEN.
Minister South Grove Congregational Church, Lon
don.
Hotel Seville. New York. n. Y.