Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-23
GERMANY GUILTY
OF DEPORTATION
Tears Belgian Workmen From
Families and Forces Them to
Work Against Allies.
DONE UNDER GUISE OF HELP
Govcrnor-Gcneral Professcd to
Fear Idle Men Would Cause
Trouble for Him.

cruel in its treatment OF PROSTATE Bel
gium is contained in protest lodged
with the German govcrnor-Ecncral OF
tho stricken country By the Couiitc
National and Commission Syndicate in
November 1916. when deportation OF
workmcn to Germany was being cX-
planned aa being necessary to tho well
faro OF Belgium and to the workmen
themselves. This protest il on file
with tho state Department at Wash
inEton. and is of proven authenticity.
1t ia included in series OF articles
concerning German atrocities TO be
made public b. the government. Car
dinal Mercier'5 letter to tho governor
general. published in last Sundays
Times Dispatch. was the first of these
articles. This is the second. II fol-
lows:
Syndicate Commission OF Belgium.
Brussels. November IA. 1915.
To His Excellcncy. Baron Won Kissing,
Governor General in Belgium:
EXccllcncy,-Thes secretaries and rep
resentativcs of the socialistic and in
dependent labor unions of Belgium
have. with Il painful appointment,
taken cognizance of the answer which
you were good enough TO make to their
petition of October so, concerning the
deportation OF laborcr5 to Germany,
and II is in the name OF the working
classes as united whole that We arc
making a final effort to prevent the
contamination of an act, without pre-
cedcnt, directed against its liberty, it's
sentiments and its dignity.
You say that many industrial works
have been closed on account OF the lacl;
OF raw materials brought about by the
isolation caused by the encmY. Fer
mi, U.S. Excelicncy. to remind you that
the allied powers manifested very
clearly their intention TO permit the
Importation into Belgium OF raw ma
teraia required by our industries. pro-
vidcd, with a very natural provision.
that no acquisitions should be made
except those mentioned in article So
of The Hague convcntion-that is to
say. those necessary 10 the occupy ing
army" and that an international COM
mission. tho 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-
thorities systematically remove the
machinery, implements. machines OF all
kinds. the engines and raw materials,
metals, leather and wool. limit produce
ton, aGgravate continually the diff
iculties OF transactions. When COM
muncs or committees have desired to
employ workmen without employment
on works of public utility, obstacles
have been thrown ii their way, and
finally in many cases their undertake
ings 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.
FAST PROTESTS AGAINST
GERMANS ACCUSATION
You state also that Unemployment
is caused by the laborers' hostility to
work. Tho whole past of our work
inS class protests against this accusa-
tion with every bit OF energy that still
| remains in them. Where is there to
be found in the whole world working
class which has made Of such q small
country such great industrial and
commercial power: And we. who for
the enthusiastic witnesses OF the mag
niticent efforts of our brother workmen,
in the matter of their material and
moral bettcrment. we proudly affirm
that it is not among their ranks that
one can find men SO degraded as to
prefer to receive a charitable assist
ance which barely furnishes them with
sufficient food to an honest wage given
|
work.
| What is true, however. is that the
| Belgian workincn. conforming to the
same article SO of The Hague conyen-
! ton, which only admits rcauisitions OF
labor for the needs of the army OF
| occupation and in case these reuuist
| tions do not imply an obligation 70
| take part in the war against their
country have refused the most tempt
ing offers. not wishing TO build
trenches nor to repair forts nor N
work in factories which manufactur,
war materials. This was their RICH,
and their duty. Their attitude de-
served respect. and not the most hui.
initiating Of punishments.
You refer to your DEGREES of August
10. 1915. and OF May Is. 1915, in which
are mentioned the possible punishment
OF any workmcn who receive support
and refuse work suited to their ca.
pacities and carrying with it a proper
wage. Those who know with what
care and with what minute detail the
conditions under which the unem
| ploycd have the right to receive as
sistance have been established might
perhaps think that these menaces
were to say the least. useless. But
as you yourself say. these DEGREES dc.
clare In their article that every mo.
tive of refusal to work will be- con-
sidered valid IL it is admitted by inter
national law.
For these cases of refusal, the Ger
man authorities reserved the right to
cause these rccalcitrants to appear be.
fore Belgian tribunals and later be.
fore German military tribunals. 1t is
therefore, certain that the unemployed
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