El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-12-13
BELGIUM FREED
Of INDUSTRIAL
Discomfort
Little Nation Prepares to
Resume Trade With
Once Hated Foe.
TRADE UNIONISM
IS FLOURISHING

brussels Dec 15.-Belgiuna which
. suffered so severely under the
German occupation. Is the only coUn-
try in the verdi 70 which the after
math Of war has brought financial
benefit This does not mean that in
this country. as In all others there
IS the usual crop OF war millionaires,
but that the working classes gen
orally are enjoying an afnuence
which they have never before expert
enced
IL is the only country. too. that has
not suffered from the plague g
strikes. Labor has had its grievances.
u is true, but these have been re-
dressed According TO Emile Wander
Nelde. a satisfactory solution OF labor
problems has been made possible be
cause Of the reorganization OF Bel
gian trade unionism on better lines
than existed before the war
uniouilm We'll OrrunIEed.
M Nandervelde, Belgian cabinet
minister without portfolio, said pre-
war trade uuionism In this country
vas organized almost entirely on
German Lines. Al that has uoR
changed
eBelgiului1 uufferluEu during
the war have rendered her I'm
uileahly hostile TO Germany he
said. an my 0pouiOn the British
labor movement now eLerta the
-greuteEt influence not only in Bel
gium. but throughout the world.
50 far as the question OF future
commercial relationship between Ger
many and US is concerned can only
say. Look at the map
The hinterlaud Of our chief port
antwerp, Is Germany. NotWithstsnd-
ing our hostility against the Ger
mans. II s. Inevitable that we must
resume trade relations with them.
Now Important Factor.
Belgium In her present state o.
prosperity, is no longer an insguifi-
cant factor IN world commerce size
is one Of the most important. because
she IS the nearest 10 complete recoV-
err Of her former industrial and com
mercial strength
NOW. II the French and British I
commercial policy becomes protec- I
zionist Belgium win be driven. de- A.,
spite herself, into closer and closer {
trade relationship with Germany.
les a1faires sont les af6aires-' II I
81 ElplEs AZ present a matter OF
geographical position and Of CONNER /
cial iuterest-factors faVoriuE Belgo-
German trade relationship. Those re- I
sponsible for the future commercial !
policy OF our allies will do well TO
pay due consideration TO these facts.
eThe var struck a staggering
blow at Belgian Industry, but
since fks arnistice the Belgian
workman, Il cauact be denied,
Inns made enormous efforts at
production
Trade uniouisn is fIourishing. Be
gore the WaT there were IN Belgium 4
about 10000 trade unionists; now
there are over 100000, though this I
number includes only those who are I
members OF Socialist and labor I
unions. and 20 them must be added 4
some $1,000 90 called Christian Trade |
lIu ionists
The situation Of our miners is 4
very satisfactory. The Belgian Mn ]
crs' Federation is certainly asking 4
1or higher wages, but they are put I
ting forward their demands in a 4
uatrlotlc spirit, and not In manner \
likely 70 iniure the consumer. The I
benefits 20 employees are very con-
siderable, and 7 do not think for a .
moment that there is any prospect OF /
strikes
.Ptoduotion Of the Belgian mines 1
is rapidly improving. Il has now 4
rea cred so percent Of pre- war fig I
ures. The coal situation in this coun-
try is lar better than IN any other IN 4
the world