New-York tribune., 1919-11-12

w T ASHlNGTON, Nov. 1o.-"There
" is no Bolshevism in Belgium.
Or, as the Belgian dele
gates, in chorus and with rapld-hre
earnestness, put it: "Pas de Boil
shevismc dams Belgique!"
Attending the international Labor
Conference here, the Belgians tell no
tale of despair, but describe, through
their experts, a nation foremost in
recovery from wars devastation
though trod upon with the most vicious
ness by the invader.
The Belgians, in response to ques-
tons about conditions in their home
land, insisted that the questions be
placed before them in toto, where
upon they divided tkem among their
experts for careful study and reply.
Coal Production Up
Answered in that precise manner,
with mass Of government data from
which to draw. the questions may be
taken as having brought out a thor
oughly reliable statement of the pres
ent social and industrial condition of
Belgium.
These are the outstanding facts:
Belgian coal production has been
brought back to 81 per cent Of the
pre-war output.
The big diamond cutting industry
of Antwerp has completely recovered.
Unemployment has been all but
solyed; at the close Of the war there
were 100000 men drawing unemploy-
ment benefit, while to-day there are
but 100000, with the number going
down rapidly.
The cost of LIVING has been driven
down. Az one time the price level
went up to LOO, as compared to 100
in pre-war times, while to-day it is
254, about on par with the Ameri-
can figure. At the time of the signing
of the armistice it was 700.
Rebuilding of homes is going for
ward under union of municipalities
through which the best architects
are employed. State aid is extended
to municipalities, while refugees arc
brought back with money accumulated
- the King Albert Fund"
4, 4,uls0n0i Teunn,c0rk
There has been sinking OF differ
enccs in industry and politics that
has resulted in national teamwork
for the regeneration Of the countrY.
Collective bargaining has been es-
tablished, disputed points to be
settled after impartial inquiry.
A political balance has been Sc
cured by which all parties are work
ing together in the government. even
in the face Of a political campaign.
That, in brief, is the situation in
Belgium as described by the Belgian
group through Lieutenant A. T.
Wauters, spokesman, after the experts
had compiled the information.
Belgian coal mining has so far re-
covered from vars effects that low
grade coal is being exported. The
iron and steel industry is not recover
ing as rapidly as the Belgians had
expected, but due to no fault of Bel
gums. Germany, in the treaty.
agreed to supply Belgium with d Ger,
tain quantity of gas coal, but she has
not delivered the product None of
this coal is produced in Belgium. and
until supply from abroad can be
had the iron and stee! industry will
lag behind the program
In the diamond cutting situation
there is revealed Il sidelight on Ger
man character. German profteers are
buying diamonds in large quantities
in Belgium in order to avoid the
leVies on profits voted by The new
German regime.
Cooperation
In reducing the cost OF living Bel
gium has made large use of the co
operatives for which Belgium was
noted before the war. The co.
operatives continued to function
throughout the war, and at it's con-
clusion were still reaching practically
the entire nation. They were given
priority in the right to repurchase
3o0,ooo,O0o francs worth of American
army supplies which the Belgian gov
eminent took over at Antwerp when
the German machine collapsed. The