The Washington herald., 1919-10-14
Signs in Belgium
Of Quick Recovery
prom the Christian Science Mouitor)

| Brussels, Belgium.-War and op-
preston are forgotten, and the wave
OF pleasure which broke over vic
torious Belgium still submerges the
country. Paper money abounds. the
aters and picture houses are over
crowded. but the quality Of both
plays and hlms leaves much to be
desired. At the present moment the
reasoning OF the Belgians seems to
be a. follows: 1T is useless to think
Of buying clothing. etc. which is ex-
tremely costly:t We earn barely
sufficient to keep us in food: let us
then devote whatever is left to pleas
ures.' The "Zeep Badrons," soap
profiteers. so-called because they
have enriched themselves by manu-
featuring soap out OF comestible fat
or butter, now mingle with the newly
clothed demobilized soldiers. This
love Of pleasure which seems TO push
the crowds toward balls and cafes
has not escaped the notice OF the few
American soldiers and civilians who
have visited Belgium lately.
Importing From Germany.
I New fortunes are in the IT liking and
| il would seem as IL the whole nation
was converging toward materialism
II industry is reawakening slowly. this
is not the case with commerce, which
has been resumed with great activity
Expectation is particularly important
in rubber and oils. directed toward
Germany, whilst chalk, stone, and ce-
ment take the road TO devastated
France. Imports from Aneroca is the
! month OF May reached a total of d.
fSe. IA francs. imports OF wheat and
lard alone amounting TO s,0el.90S
francs. 1t is interesting to note that
imports from Germany are gradually
increasing, in spite of the barrier op-
posed by the obligatory license which
has to be obtained in every case
Liberty. OF exchange is the guiding
motive in the economic policy of the
Belgian government. Sentiment is ex-
cluded from business. The chief OBJ
ject is. in the first place, to reduce the
cost OF living by the play of competi-
ton, and to allow free entrance-to
German goods rather than to favor
monopoly and a rise of prices. But in
spite OF that, Belgian national indus
try remains well protected BY a CEN
trail committee Of industry, which Of
hcial organizations consult when
necessary,
Commercial retailers supply them
selves, in other countries. with
goods which they sell in Belgium
at some so per cent profit. German
goods are often cleverly disguised
under English marks. and it is just
these underhand methods which de-
termine many Belgian merchants to
OBTAIN goods directly from Germany.
Coming Election.
The union sacree spirit which
gives Belgium a tri-party govern
ment, seems to have borne excellent
fruit. The elections which will take
place in November on the basis OF
universal suffrage pure and simple
are awaited with impatience. 1t is
absolutely impossible for the mo-
ment to make any representations
The nation Is Just awakening from
q long and hideous nightmare. The
popular consultation which is soon
to take place will surprise citizens
at the very re-awakening of their
national conscience. They will nat
urally be offered ready-made opin-
ions, but in Belgium changes are
occasionally so unexpected that Moth
ing can be counted on. excepting
the good, sound common sense Of
the leading clarses. The church is
striving to retain the power 1t ex-
ercised during the war. Cardinal
Mercier Is the leader of the move
ment. and Is at present engaged in
d!savowing young "fiamingent" vi
cars who wish to replace the Brab-
In 40 At.
ish Lion" the Flemish national an
them.
The Liberal Party is especially re-
cruited amongst the heads of large in
dustries, small merchants and clerks
1t finds itself between the anvil of
Conservatives and Clericals and the
Socialist hammer! The last-named
party, by the accession of its chief
leaders to the rank of ministers, has
assumed an official appearance which
has already provoked many revolts.
A schism has occurred in the Maison
du Peuple. The violence which the
paper OF the Labor Party used for
merly to reveal. is today the apanage
OF group Of young men imbued with
decidedly Bolshevist doctrines. But
discipline has prevailed until now, as
can be seen by the speeches made at
the recent meeting at Rotterdam.
Rapid Reorganization.
The strikes OF industrial workers are
settled. Miners and glass blowers are
all at work again. but general strike
has been voted by the raiiwaymen-and nd
postofhce and telegraph agents, who
demand that their salaries be raised
50 that they can face the difficulties
Of the vie ehere.