New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-29
Minister Says Germans
Deliberately Stifled In
dustry as Part of Plot
PLANTS DISMANTLED;
SENT TO GERMANY
Jobless Men then DepOrt-
ed-Declares u. S. Has
Prevented Starvation

lIavenith Of Belgium issued state
ment tonight denouncing as untrue
the German governments contention
that deportation Of Belgians Tor
forced labor is social necessity on
account Of unemployment resulting
from the British blockade.
an reality, what has happened -
the exact contrary to the statement OF
Germany" said the minister. "and' as
in the case Of the deportations, 1t IS
the Germans who have created a state
If affairs upon which they have after
ward endeavored to establish the JUS
LITIGATION Of the illegal measures taken
! by them.
"On June %, 1915, the legation of
the King formally and officially pro-
tested against the seizure OF raw ma
terials amounting TO sl7,ooo,OOo. Other
official protests have been made under
dates Of December 90, 1914; March 4,
1915. and October 20, 1915, against the
seizure Of machines and tools requl-
sitioned by the Germans in Belgium
and sent into Germany.
Belgian industries having been
thus prevented from continuing work.
there followed an increase in the num-
Der of unemployed. due entirely to the
actions Of Germany. who has not hest
tated TO sacrifice belgian interests as
indeed, General Won Kissing openly
acknowledged when he recently de-
clared he was not in Belgium to watch
over the interests of that country, but
70 take care of the interests of Ger
many.
Saved from Starving by United States
"The German government IN Its
communication note to the American
government, then takes up the matter
of the financial burden which this
state Of affairs imposes upon Bel
oium. II is sufficient to recall briefly
that Germany has wilfully disregarded
all it's obligations toward the occu-
MED country. II was the direct duty
Of Germany to feed the population.
However, had 1t not been for the in
itiative and good will Of citizens OF
the United States the Belgian popula-
ton would to-day be dead from starva-
ton.
"The legation of the King recalls
also that Belgium (Which. even accord
ing 10 what Germany herself says, is for
the moment without commerce ana
without industry is subject TO a war
tax amounting 10 100000 month
more than ten times the amount OF
ordinary taxes in time Of peace; that
she has paid this tax since the begin
ming Of the occupation Of her territory,
and that. in addition, she has been SUD
jected 10 acquisitions or all xmas "hleh
Germany has imposed upon her ana
which have made a desert OF certain
narts OF this unfortunate country.
"Public opinion will judge whether II
annertains TO Germany to speak OF the
financial burden which Belgium en-
dures 10 feed her population when this
burden should be borne exclusively by
Germany.
when Germany had thus reduced to
idleness a large number Of workmen
she decided TO export them into Ger
many, to liberate in this way an equal
number Of German workmen, who
would rejoin the German army in the
field. This plan was conceived a long
time in advance, as one may see by
reading the official orders of the Ger
man Government
10000 Deported to Germany
To-day it is no longer a question
only of the deportation OF the unem-
ploved. According 70 information re
cejved by the government OF the King,
employed and unemployed-all those
whom the German government thinks
that IL can utilize-are deported to Ger
many. The number OF these unfortu-
mates is to-day more than l20'ooO.
Defending the refusal of his country
men to labor voluntarily Tor the Ger
mans, the minister said:
as there a right more sacred than
that of refusing TO contribute to the
augmentation Of the effective of the
armed forces Of the enemy? This is
not only right-it is strict and i'm
perative duty for every good citizen,
and the legation of the King is glad 10
be able TO state that, contrary to the
untrue declaration Of the German gov
eminent, very few Belgian workmen
have succumbed TO the temptations Of
German corruption.
"Nearly every one of them has
chosen rather the harsh treatment, the
privatons, the suffering which he knew
would be his lot rather than aid Ger
many in her struggle against his
brothers"