Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-23
PLEA FOR BELGIAN
SLAVES IN GERMANY
Syndicate Commission of Bel
GUM Addresses the Gov
ern0r General.
LABOR TOPIC OF PETITION

Another official document bearing
upon the atrocious enslavement of Bel
gian workers in the service of German
occupants of their country was made
public last night by the committee on
public information.
The document, from the syndicate
commission of Belgium. is addressed
to Baron Won Kissing, governor gen.
eral Of Belgium. 1t bears the date OF
November IA, 1915. The letter, in part,
follows:
resentatives of the socialistic and indie
pendent labor unions OF Belgium have,
with a painful disappointment. taken
cognizance of the answer which you
were good enough to mako to their
petition OF October 80 concerning the
deportation of laborers to Germany.
and it Is in the name Of the working
classes as a united whole that we are
making a final effort to prevent the
contamination of an act, without prece-
dent. directed against its liberty. its
sentiments and its dignity.
Manifested Their Intention.
You say that many industrial works
have been closed on account Of the lack
of raw materials brought about by
the isolation caused by the enemy
Permit US, Excellency, to remind you
that the allied powers manifested very
clearly their intention to permit the
Importation into Belgium Of raw ma
terials required by our industries. pro-
vided with very natural provision.
that no acquisitions should be made
~
of The Hague convention-that is to
say. those necessary to the occupying
army" and that an international COM
mission, the commission for relief in
Belgium. should have the right to
supervise the destination of the manu-
featured products.
Instead of agreeing to such a pro-
posal. we have seen the occupying
authorities Systematically remove the
machinery. implements, machines of all
metals. leather and wool. limit produc-
ton. aggrevate continually the difficulties
Of transactions. When communes or
committees have desired to employ work
public utility, obstacles have been thrown
in their way. and finally in many cases
their undertakings have been stopped
and broken. IN word. as fast as the
most tireless efforts were strained TO
employ as many hands as possible, other
men were constantly thrown out Of work.
Caused by Labor's Hostility.
You state also that unemployment is
caused by the laborers' hostility to work
The whole past of our working class pro-
tests against this accusation with every
bit Of energy that still remains in them.
Where u there to be found in the whole
world working class which has made of
such a small country such a great in
ne {o1
What II true, however. is that the Bel
gian workmen. conforming to the same
article hfty-two Of The Hague conven-
ton which only admits acquisitions Of
labor for the needs Of the army of occu-
patton and in case these acquisitions do
not imply an obligation to take part in
the war against their country" have re-
fused the most tempting offers. not wish
nor to work in factories which manufac-
ture war materials This was their right
and their duty. Their attitude deserved
respect and not the most humilitating OF
You refer to your DEGREES of August
IS. 1915, and Of May Is. 1916. in which
are mentioned the possible punishment
Of any workmen who receive support
and refuse work suited to their capaci-
ties and carrying with 1t q proper wage.
Those who know with what care and
with what minute detail the conditions
under which the unemployed have the
right to receive assistance have been e.
tablished might perhaps think that these
menaces were, to say the least, useless.
But, as you yourself say. these DEGREES
declare in their article two taat every
motive OF refusal TO work will be consid-
cred valid II it is admitted by interna-
tional law.
Appear Before Tribunals.
For these cases of refusal the German
authorities reserved the right to cause
these recalcitrants to appear before
man military tribunals. It is therefore
certain that the unemployed have the
right to refuse to work for any motive
approved by international law. When
their defense and to state clearly their
reasons for refusal One might, Of
course. say that it is not . question Of
obiiging the workmen to participate On
evident that every Belgian deported to
Germany will take the place there of
man who tomorrow will 60 to rein
force the ranks of the enemy.
We should like to know. excellency.
whether these tribunals carry on their
functions.
You fear that continued unempIoy-
ment may depreciate the physical and
moral status of the workmen. We,
in them. We have seen them suffer
with stoicisIn which exists only in
proud and high souls. Did not the
splendid idea s.ome from them of or
ganizing throughout the entire coun-
try vast chain of educational work
for the unemployed in order to develop
their technical knowledge and TO in
crease their Professional value? The
Comite National was not. alas, author
lied 10 undertake this magnificent en-
terprise. Is II the idea that 1t Is
through forced labor. performed with
black despair. ike slaves. that our un-
happy brothers will keep up their phys
ical and moral energy?
You fear also that the assistance
which they receive Will at length weigh
with dinhcuity helieve that Belgians, as
you say, have had the smalIness oil
soul to grudge in that form the bitter
piece OF bread and the little soup which
have formed the food of so many work.
ing families for SO many months: and
what. after all. do the twelve millions
amount to that are distributed each
month to from 100000 to 100000 un.
employed, in comparison with the de.
struction. beyond reckoning, of good.
and lives which the horrors of war ir
which It has not the slightest re-
-sonsibility have cost and still cost GU,
ccuntry? With the most unsuitable
f-itn in our destinies; we. the mos
nearly interested. know that in the
near future Flanders and Walionie will
rise again. glorious. in history.
Has Raised Doubts.
furthermore. the arbitrary ana
brutal manner employed in the execu-
ton of these sad measures has raiset
all kinds of doubts regarding the OBJ,
iect in view. The question. above all
IS to obtain workmen in Germany, fol