El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-12-14

HELD ESSENTIAL
Germany Says Transfer of
Belgians to Places of En-
ployment Aids Them.

Washington. d. 9, Dec. 14-Ger-
many's reply TO the American protest
against deportation Of BeIgians arrived
at the state department this morning.
II Is understood TO contend that the
United States has not been informed
accurately of the purposes OF the de
portations which are said To be made
on the grounds Of social necessity
The note contends. according to YER
sions made public in Berlin. that un-
employment has for long time been
one Of the perple1ing problems in Bel
gium, adding:
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 man
ufactured goods and has thus brought
the greater part Of Belgian industry TO
d standstilL
BY this measure almost half Of the
worklngmen in Belgian factories. num-
berIng altogether about 100000 We're
deprived of the possibility of earning a
living and many more than 500. 600 Bel
glanS- who formerly supported them
selves by industrial work. were made
dependent upon public relief Adding
the members Of their families this
number is increased three fold. or in
round figures. 1900. 600 persons
Order to the Unemployed
Under such conditions the governor
general OF Brussels on May Is. 1916.
issued an order by which upon per
sons enjoying public relief and declin-
ing without adequate reasons to ac-
cept or continue TO do work CORES
ponding TO their abilities. confinement
or cOercive labor was imposed
BELGIAN industries being IN a de-
dressed condition. ii was impossible 10
procure for all the unemployed work,
or at least proper employment. within
Belgium itself The only thing posi-
bic. therefore, was to assign them to
work in Germany. where a large num-
Der OF Belgian wOrkingmen had al
ready voluntarily accepted work. were
well fed. were receiving high wages
and We're enjoying far reaching liberty
OF movement. For those workmen.
however, that did not support their
families. cOercive labor was used
In Accord With Law.
These measures are completely in
accord with international law. for &C
cording to The Hague convention re-
iating 10 war on land paragraph 49,
the occupying power is Obliged TO I'M
dertake the maintenance Of public or
der and public life in occupied districts
and for this purpose as far as the cOuu-
try's laws prove insufficient, to act by
complemental orders The mainten-
L.
implies that ablebOdied persons. as
far as possible. are not 10 be thrown
upon public charity and by idleness be
come public calamity and nuisance:
but that they must be held 10 work
Mistakes to BE Corrected.
The order has been carried out with
all possible consideration and without
harshness. If isolated mistakes have
happened in the selection Of persons
sent TO Germany and Il. especially. the
measure has been extended to persons
where the conditions of the order OF
May Is. 1916, are not fulfilled the
cause has been that the Belgian au-
-horities frequently failed to cooper
ate in drawing up a list of the unern-
Dloyed or reported in incorrect fashion. /
are has been taken that such mis- !
lakes shall be repaired as quickly as
possible For. above all. IL shall be in
sisted that only such persons shall be !
sent 10 Germany 10 receive public as
'istance as find no work in Belgium !
1r refuse the work offered 10 them
Closes Saturday Night. |
4 word 10 the wise is sufficient quite. /
Write your "Jingles" and do il right. /
you've waited so long there's not much ]
time
7or You TO send In the Jingle rhyme |
That may win for you a prize or two |
iet busy and see what you can do.
-Grain-Feed-Fue