New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-14
Text of Note Declares
Protest Is Based on
MiSinfOrmatiOn
COERCION,
CALLS 1T JUSTIFIED
Treaty Is Cited to Prove
Exile Order Was
Humane

perrin, Dec. 10 NY WlIeIeSS 10 ohy-
ville).-Germany's reply to the in
quiries Of the United States into the
matter Of the Belgian unemployed and
the deportation of Belgians Is pub
lished to-day in the "Norddeutsche AL
gemeine Zeitung," and Is given out by
the Overseas News Agency as follows:
"The government Of the United States
Of America has protested against
the transportation of Belgian work
ingmen TO Germany and against
their compulsory employment for
work, basing this on the view
that these measures are in contra
vention of humane principles and
of international practice as to the
treatment Of the population In occu-
pied territory. The German govern
ment thinks that the government Of the
United States has been incorrectly in
formed regarding the cause and the
execution of the measures, and there
fore considers it appropriate first to
explain the facts in detail.
an Belgium unemployment for a
considerable time has been extending
in a perplexing fashion among the in
dustrial workingmen. This prevalence
of unemployment has been caused by
the English policy Of isolation, which
has cut off Belgian industry from the
importation Of raw material and the
expectation of manufactured goods,
and has thus brought the greater part
of Belgian industry to a standstill.
100000 Out of Jobs
"By this measure almost half of tl.e
workingmen in Belgian factories. num-
bering altogether in round figures
100000. were deprived Of the possi-
bility of earning a living and many
more than half million Belgians who
formerly supported themselves by in
dustrial work were made dependent
upon public relief. Adding the mem
bers of their families, this number is
increased threefold, OF, in round fig
ures, 100000 persons.
"F from the standpoint of Belgian
economic right, upon which these un-
employed inflict heavy burden, as
also from the standpoint Of public
order and public morals, which are
most dangerously affected by general
unemployment and the accompanying
consequences, this situation makes 1t
extremely desirable and urgent that
efficient measures for improvement be
taken. This necessity has been recog-
nized and pointed out also by fair
minded Belgians for long time.
"Under such conditions the Gov
ernor- General of Brussels, on May Is,
1916, issued an order by which upon
persons enjoying public relief and de-
clining without adequate reasons TO
accent or TO continue TO do work cor
responding to their abilities, contne-
ment or coercive labor was imposed.
Admit Using Coercion
"Belrian industries being in a de-
pressed condition. it was impossible 10
procure for all the unemployed work,
or at least proper employment, within
Belgium itself. The only thing pos
sible, therefore, was to assign them TO
work in Germany, where a large num-
ber of Belgian workingmen had al
ready voluntarily accepted work, were
well fed, were receiving high wages
and were enjoying farreaching liberty
of movement. For those workingmen,
however, that did not support their
families, coercive labor was used.
"These measures are completely In
accordance with international law, for,
according to The Hague convention re-
lating to war on land paragraph 43),
the occupying power is obliged to un-
dertake the maintenance OF pubic order
and public life in occupied districts, and
for this purpose, as far as the country's
laws prove insufficient, TO act by com.
elemental orders. The maintenance OF
public order, without doubt, implies
that able bodied persons, as far as pos
sible, are not TO be thrown upon pubic
charity, and, by idleness, become pub
lie calamity and nuisance, but that they
must be held 20 work.
"The order has been carried out with
all possible consideration and without
barshnoss. II isolated mistakes have
bannened in the selection of persons
cont TO Germany, and If, especially, the
measures has been extended TO persons
where the conditions OF the order OF
Wav 15 1916. are not fulfilled. the
cause has been that the Belgian author
ities frequently failed to cooperate in
drawing UP list of the unemployed or
renorted in incorrect fashion.
hCare has been taken that such mis-
+akes shall be repaired as quickly as
nossible. for, above all, II shall be in
sis-ed that only such persons shall be
con. 10 Germany as receive public as
distance and find no work in Belgium, or
fuse the work offered TO them in Ger