The sun., 1917-01-21
Industries ThrOttled by
British Refusal to Allow
Imports.
100000 PERSONS
DEPEND ON CHARITY
Memorial to I. S. Ascribes
Much Misery to Volun-
tary Idleness.

WARRINGTON, Jan. 20.-Deportatio
and compulsory employment of Belgian
workmen are vigorously defended by the
herman Government in memorial pre-
sented to the State Department to-day
oy the German Embassy. The text of
the document, which also has been deliy-
cred to the foreign offices Of other neutra,
governments. follows:
The compulsory employment Of Bel
sian workmen in German establishments
Is seized upon by our enemies as a
welcome opportunity for infiaminE public
opinion in the neutral and hostile coun-
tries against this alleged latest violation
of the Belgian people
This effort at arousng sentiment
against Germany is threatening to as
sumo considerable proportions, and II
may even be considered probable that
the Entente will attempt to move neutral
governments or high personages in
neutral countries to make a formal pro-
test II seems. therefore. necessary, to
prevent a one sided judgment on this
question from being formed, to elucidate
the causes and the effects Of the meas
ures to which exception is being taken.
Peculiar Conditions In Belgium.
"Those who are far removed from the
war theatres and can therefore form only
superficial opinion of the conditions
obtaining in the Occupied territories in
the west may not. perhaps. readily un-
derstand that the measures which have
been adopted are not only in no wise
detrimental to the population from an
economic point of view, but that they
have become as ii were, a social neces-
sity in view Of the peculiar conditions
which prevail there.
Those who wish to comprehend these
facts will first of all have to gain
clear conception of the extent Of unem-
ployment in Belgium and its conse-
quences. The principal cause OF this
unemployment is to be found In the ruth
less application of the British blockade
even rs against Belgium. Belgian indus
tries are dependent on the importation OF
raw materials and the expectation Of
manufactured goods to such an extent
that the almost complete throttling OF
Belgium's foreign trade by England was
bound to lead automatically to the clos
ing down Of by far the greater part of
the Belgian factories.
This Is especially true of the impoi-
tant iron and steel industry, the textile
and clothing industries, the ceramic and
glass industries. which altogether employ
over 100000 workmen in peace times
it is also true of the leather, tobacco.
paper and chemical industries. The fish
ing industry also has ceased completely
as a result of the blockade. A number
of other enterprises had to close down
because the materials employed, as we'll
as their transportation, had become 30
dear that they were working at n loss
this happened. for example, in the build
ing industry (Which in peace time en-
ploys $4,000 workers) and in the wood
and furniture industry (which normally
employs 10000 workers..
Coni Exports I" 'erh"hy.
"That the important mining industry in
still able TO employ nne-tenths of It's
tensiye coal exports to Germany; SINH
larry the qualrleS enpioN one -'hl.u ot
the'r iot"ier o'H,,E lo1oe ol oo''oV'
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terluls anu m"u T1,, rus
increase" '"e 'aeN VI o''i''os '''I't, 'o
asseruo'A u h'' ~ aeIo' aeIo''''' ''''I' WIN Ine
lacts' because lheSe Iequls'''o"S were
nauc 'u'ens ~ s'o u I"''"' .'s 'o, ~ ~, or, o'e
OF ""otnS, VI 'nc ~ ~i.'e"u" eiu' '"'e"
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were "oih''s III Ht'sl'' 'tnuSt,'a'
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gum ensaseu ~ sn'n'u' pnt ano Su'tn, o""'-
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