The Mena weekly star., 1919-12-11
No STRIKE PLAGUE HARASSES BELGIUM
Workers in the Little Country Are
 Prosperous and Commercial Condi-
 tions and Interests May Cause
 Renewal of Trade With Huns.

Brussels, Dec. 9.-Belgium, which suffered so severely under the Ger man occupation, is the only country in which the aftermath of war has brought financial benefit. This does moi mean that in this country, as in au others. there is the usual crop of war millionaires, but that the working classes generally are enjoying an af fluence which they have never before experienced.
 If is the only country, too, that has not suffered from plague of strikes H abor has had it's grievances, it is true. but these have been redressed According to Emile Vandervelde, a satisfactory solution of labor prob. lems has been made possible because of the reorganization of Belgian trade, unionism on better lines than existed before the war.
 M Vandervelde, Belgian Cabinet Minister without Portfolio. said pre-. war trade unionism in this country was organized almost entirely on Ger man lines. AlAhat has now changed. war have reGdered her lmplacabiy hostile to Germany" he said. Tn my opinion the British labor movement now exerts the greatest influence not only in Belgium, but turnout the world.
 ~So far as the question of future commercial relationship between Ger many and us is concerned l can only say, Look at the map
 The hinterland of our chief port, ] Antwerp, is Germany. Notwithstand- ing our hostility against the Germans, it is inevitable that we must resume trade relations with them.
 Belgium, in her present state of Eprosperity, is no longer an insignifi- cant factor in world commerce. She {. is one of the most important. because she is the nearest to complete recov- cry of her former industrial and com -merciai strength.
 Now, if the French and British commercial policy becomes protec- tionist, Belgium will be driven, de- spite herself, into closer and closer trade relationship with Germany.
 "Let affaires sont les affaires 1t is simply, at present, a matter of geographical position and of conner cial interest-factors favoring Belgo- |German trade relationship. Those re- sponsible for the future commercial policy of our Allies will do well to pay due consideration to these facts.
 "The war struck staggering blow at Belgian industry, but since the ar mistice the Belgian workman, it can not be denied, has made enormous eff forts at production.
 Trade unionism is flourishing Be fore the war there were in Belgium about l20,000 trade unionists; now there are over 500,000, though this number includes only those who are members of Socialist and labor unions and to them must be added some 80,- 900 so-called Christian Trade Union ists
 The situation of our miners is very satisfactory The Belgian Min CTS Federation is certainly asking for #higher wages, but they are putting forward their demands in a patriotic spirit, and not in a manner likely to injure the consumer. The benefits 10 employees are very considerable, and l do not think for moment that there is any prospect of strikes
 Production of the Belgian mines is "rapidly improving It has now reached so per cent of pre-war figures. The coal situation in this country is far better than in any other in the world"