Albuquerque morning journal., 1916-12-14


Berlin, Dee. 10 (by Wireless tn
SayviHc). Germany reply to the in
quires Of the United States into tho
matter Of the Belgian unemployed
and the deportation Of Belglans is
published today in the Nord Deutsche
Allgcmene zeltung,and is given out
by the Overseas News agency, as fol-
lows:
"The government Of the United
states Of America has protested
against the transportation of BELGIAN
working men 20 Germany and against
their compulsory employment for
work, bnsing this on the view that
these measures arc II contravention
of humane principles and of tnterna-
tional practice, as to the treatment
Of the population In otNupied terri
tory The German government thinks
that the government of the United
States has been incorrectly informed
regarding the cause, and the eSecu-
ton of the measures, and therefore
considers it appropriate, first to ex-
lain the facts In detail.
English Are Blamed.
I'm Belgium unemployment for a
Aconaidaraiic time mas been eStersiin9
.in perplcxng fashion among the in
/ dustrial workingmen. This preva-
| lence of unemployment has been
| caused by the English policy Of isoa-
I ton, which has cut off Belgian indus
try from the importation of raw ma
tcrial and the expectation Of manu-
factured goods and has thus broughp
the greater part OF Belgian industry
to a standstiil
by this measure, almost half or
the worknRmen in Belgian factories,
numbering altogether I'm round fig
ures 100000, We're deprived of the
possibility of earning a living, ana
many more than half million Bel
gians, who formerly supported them
selves by Industrial work, were made
dependent upon public relief Add
ing the embers of their families, this
number is increased three-fold, or, in
round figures, one million and half
persons.
Merely Doing Bclginns Good.
From the standpoint OF Belgian
economic right upon which these un-
employed inflict a heavy burden, as
also from the standpoint of public or
der and public morals which are most
dangerously affected by general un-
employment and tho accompanying
consequences, this situation makes it
extremely desirable and urgent that
efficient measures for improvements
be taken. This necessity has been
recognized and pointed out also by
fair-mindcd Relgians for logg time. d.
Under such conditions, the gover-
general of Brussels, on May To-
1919. issued an order by which upon
persons enjoying public relief and de-
Clining without adequate reasons to
accept or to continue to do work COR
responding TO their abilities, confine-
mcnt or coercive labor was imposed.
Assigned 10 Germany.
"Belglan industries being in de-
pressed condition, 1t was impossible
to procure for all the unemployed
work or at least proper employment,
within Belgium itself The only thing
possible, therefore, was to assign them
to work in Germany where a large
number Of Belgian working men had
already voluntarily accepted work.
were we'll fed, We're receiving high
wages. and were enjoying far-reaching
liberty of movement. For those work.
ing men, however, that did not sup
port their families. coerCivo labor was
used
These measures are completely in
accordance with international law for,
according to The Hasue convention
relating to war on land (paragraph
SO, the occupying power Is obliged to
undertake the maintenance Of pubic
order and public lifo in occupied dis
trcts, and for this purpose, as far as
the country's laws prove insufficient
TO act by complcmental orders,
Order Carried Out Quietly.
The maintenance OF pHblc order
without doubt implies that able-bod-
led persons,us far as possible, are not
to be thrown upon public charity
and. by idloncss, become a public
calamity and nuisance. but that they
must be held to work
Tho order has been carried out
with IN possible consideration ana
without harshuess. II isolated mis-
takes have happened In the selection
Of persons sent to Germany and If,
the measure has been ex-
tended to persons where the condi-
tions of the order of May IS, 1915.
are not fulfilled, the cause has been
that the -Relgiau authorities frequent
ly failed Tn cooperate in drawing up :
a list of the unemployed or reported
I'm incorrect fashion Care has been
taken that such mistakes shall be re-
paired as quickly as possible. For.
above an " shall bo insisted that only
such persons shall be sent to Gers