Evening star., 1919-04-20

Item and offered greatest prosperity.
When these mills resume many OF the
smaller allied factories will be able
to once more start their wheels. but
the problem as whole is a stasger-
ing one in all it's phases
Problem Facing Belgium.
Not only must Belgium rebuild her
industries during a period when the
enemy and certain of her allies, with
going industries. are actively reach
ling out to the far corners of the earth
for trade in the very products Bel
gium once manufactured, but Belgium
must float great loans, at unfavorable
interest rates. which will permit her
to review her industries alone. The
allies have established a special or
iganiZation looking toward the re-
hA.bilitation of Belgian industry. but
in the final analysis Belgian indus
trials and bankers realize that Bel
gium must fight her own battles II
she prospers. With the burden of an
enemy's advanced start, the Belgians
must buy their machinery at the tre-
lmendously increased prices of the mo-
ment, the country must go through
a period when here exchange will be
threatened by continuous imports
and few exports.
advanced the Belgian government
$50, 900 900 at 7 L. per cent interest.
the whole principal to be repaid
within a period of one year o Great an
| while French bankers have lent
| about s45. 1000 900, but these amounts
make but dent in the amount re-
quired for rehabilitation processes.
Furthermore, the loans are not con-
sidered wholly advantageous to Bel
gum, inasmuch as they must be re-
paid at time preceding actual re-
sumption of general business. But
Ie1 ID-Ix ln
geatest possible good from such aid
as has been rendered
| Prominent bankers in Brussels and
other places with whom ! talked de-
| clared that Belgipm's salvation lies in
long term loans at favorable rates of in
terest. With these they declare they
| can count upon the industry of the Bel
| gian workmen to eventually reach a
point of production, despite the burden
of debt, where they can successfully
handle all financial obligations through
successful export competition.
The question of the amount of indem-
| nifty or repatriation Germany must make
| to Belgium is a vital matter with Bel
gium as whole. Though Belgium pos
sbly suffered as great as any other ma
| ton Relgium's claims in the peace con-
| ference have not been given preferential
position. and as result the amount
| which the country will receive Is mat
| ter of conjecture. That a German in
!
! bone, though it may not be sufficient to
meet the nations reconstruction needs,
1 is admitted.
Loath to Deal With Germans.
But how shall Belgium he repaid
! This is another question that is giving
! considerable thought. If Belgium is to
| get export products, either raw or fin
! ished materials, from Germany in pay
ment of Germany's obligations, all stu
i dents of economics admit that Belgian
I finance and Belgian industry will be-
come more or less interlocked with the
German, and Belgian peoples of all de-
lgrees are loath to have dealings in any
| respect with the Germans now or in the
future. If Belgium can escape the TAX
ing of Germany's raw mhterials and
Gsrmany's finished products as part
payment for Germany's misdeeds Bel
GUM would be better satisfied.
How to aid Belgium in her industrial
necessity, thereby showing appreciation
of Belgium's efforts in the war and her
heroic sacrifices and loyal courage, is d
I problem which has been seriously con-
sidered in Paris, and it is believed that
| allied governments as Well as peoples
will continue the policy of benevolent
aid, commercially and socially. until the
little nation has once more emerged
from her present trying position.