Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
ers Hope to Secure
hornic Hold by Aid
ing Restoration
llNT GLOOMY FUTURE
lpturc England and America
+ Giving Little Nation
Worst of 1t
Speciai Gable to Erening Public Ledger
5 cos1rioht. fsis bp Nt'n Yorl. Ti0iea %


The Hague. July 20,
There Is an evident fear in Germany
th4t America will step in and help in
the gigantic work of restoring Belgium
after the war. though industrial Ger
many hopes to secure an economic hold
on Belgium by aiding in the restoration
{ Aad supplying new machinery for the
4 Industries which have been destroyed
(, In many cases with a view to Gripping
J the country industrially and economi-
ca1ly Chancellor Won Hertling's state
!; mAnts on Belgium have brought f0 III
tfy's economic future, its colonies and
4 It's relations to Germany.
The yossische Zeitung says that if it
y had not been for Bismarck. Belgium
& would not have acquired the Congo. as
England or France would have snatched
The pledge of Pelgium," says the
paper. must. above AL, help to regu-
4 late our colonial possessions. Thus
Belgium is not obliged to take part in
Z external politics or to join one of an
other group of powers for security,
which would not be given without con-
4 siderable advantages offered in eX-
& change. In future it will be necessary
I merely to deal with Belgium's wish to
Join the Entente group
& " suld Curb Flemish Movement
The paper refers to the Flemish move.
ment. saying that this should not be al.
~ 49,
GUM on account of the port of ANTWERP
!. ana its connection with the economical
and Industrial spheres on which Bel
4 Hfum absolutely depends. Antwerp's
& value depends on this connection, ant
h IRIS, in turn, says the paper. has a life
interest for Germany so that neithe,
separation from the Congo nor the Fin
3 nioh policy must be allowed to worl
against German interests.
The article goes on to say that Eng
q, land was Belgium's best market before
the war. both as buyer and n middle
4 man for the colonies. England tool
three-quarters of her big industrial prod
y 41cts and a large percentage Of zinc
X glassware, cotton and cloth. but the
s Arltish protective tariff will certainly
4 aIter al this
The paper proceeds to explain tina
1elgiAn industry works under com
b plltated conditions and is obliged to i'm.
port Virtually all raw materials AM
~ well as most of the coal for fac
4 tories. 30 that the lack of tonnage will
Z be felt acutely and coal will be mor'
: eaSfiy imported from Germany
Il Iron Ore Difficult to Get
Even iron ore from Brey will ~
~ difucsilt to procure. II says "as it car
4 - reckoned on that France will have a
special preferential agreement will
Germany by which little will remain
Tor third party just as the products
y from the German Congo must first
serve our interests. especially the newly
found copper. Most important is the
blrong foothold which America has
gained In South America during the war
where Belgium once procured quantities
of raw materials on the exchange for
cheap goods"
Belgium will have all this to con.
tend with. argues the paper as well as
&he upbuilding of the State, so that
owing to the tariff of her best client
ohe will be obliged to look for new
MARKETS. and her interests and fate are
common with those of Germany. her
0eEalopment lying eastward The paper
sayS that Belgian industry must he
helped to restoration and that this must
~ Germany's work unless we wish tc
r ~ America undertake this work the
u 0ny after peace, she would like Ia
+ make branch firm out of competitor
But this reconstruction with our helr
Unst be only a means of helping Bel
G1um with a new policy
The paper finally says that thus
10tteleurope must build up friendly
!, relations all around.