Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-01-21
Bernstorff Presents Memo
randum to Department of
State Outlining Position of
Berlin Regarding Subject,
INSISTS CONDITIONS
ARE MUCH IMPROVED
Says Population of Subject
Country Is Becoming Miser-
able Through Blockade In
posed by Great Britain.

and compulsory employment of Bel
gian workmen is vigorously defended
| by the German government in a me-
mortal presented to the state depart
ment today by the German embassy.
The text of the document, which also
has been delivered to the foreign Of
fices of other neutral governments,
follows:
"Fhe compulsory employment of
Belgian workmen in German estab-
lishments is being seized upon by our
enemies as a welcome opportunity for
inflaming public opinion in the neu-
trail and hostile countries against this
alleged latest violation of the Belgian
people. This effort at arousing senti-
ment against Germany is threatening
to assume considerable proportions,
and it may even be considered prob
able that the entente will attempt to
move neutral governments or high
perSonages in neutral countries to
make formal protest. 1t seems there
fore necessary to prevent a one-sided
judgment on this question from being
formed, to elucidate the causes and
the effects of the measures to which
exception is being taken.
Social Necessity.
"rhose who are far removed from
the war theaters and can therefore
form only a superficial opinion of the
conditions obtaining in the occupied
territories in the west, may not, per
haps, readily understand 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 it were, social necessity in view
of the peculiar conditions which pre-
vail there. Those who wish to COM
prehend these facts will first of all have
to gain a clear conception of the ex-
tent of unemployment in Belgium and
its consequences. The principal cause
for this unemployment is to be found
in the ruthless application of the Brit
ish blockade even as against Belgium
Belgian industries are dependent on
the importation of raw materials and
the expectation Of manufactured
goods to such an extent that the al
most complete throttling of Belgium's
foreign trade by England was bound
to lead automatically to the closing
down of by far the greater part of the
Belgian factories. This is especially
true of the important iron and steel
industry, the textile and clothing in
dustries, the ceramic and glass indus
tries, which altogether employ over
Lnl ~,
times; it is also true of the leather,
tobacco, paper and chemical indus
tries. The fishing industry also has
ceased completely as a result of the
blockade. A number of other enter
prises had to close down because the
materials employed, as well as their
transportation, had become so dear
that they were working at loss; this
happened, for example in the building
industry (Which in peace time employs
$4,000 workers) and in the wood and
furniture industry (Which normally
employs $4,000 workers.. That the
important mining industry is still able
to employ nine-tenths of it's $4,000
workers is due solely to the extensive
coal exports to Germany; similarly the
quarries employ one-third of their for
mer working force of $4,000, chiefly
to fill German orders.
Defends acquisitions.
1T is frequently asserted in Belgium
that German requisitions of raw ma
terials and machinery had consider
ably increased the lack of employ
yryl..
ance with the facts, because these
requisitions were made chiefly in such
factories as, for one or another of the
reasons enumerated, were unable to
continue at work.
due to the aforementioned causes
it has come about that out of 100000
men and women who before the war
were working in Belgium industrial
establishments, comprising approx
mately one-half of the total popula-
tion of Belgium engaged in gainful
pursuits, 5O5,0O0 people (including
15S,000 women) are totally unemploy-
ed, while 10000 Gncluding $4,000
women) are only partially employed.
Thus in all 5000 persons who for
merly were earning their living as in
dustrial workers are now dependent
on public charity. If, however, 29S,-
900 wives and $4,000 children of the
are added, the figure rises
to 1,560,000 people in need of assist
ance-approximately one-fifth of the
total Belgian population.
1T is obvious that in a highly de-
industrial country like Bel
GUM the conditions described, which
are without parallel in history must
Of necessity lead to the gravest
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Continued on Page Three.)