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BELGIAN REVIVAL

RECONSTRUCTION IN FULL SWING HEAVY FALL IN PRICES Belgium is making a gallant effort lo recover from the terrible ravages indicted by Germany, r.ud to-day she cJnows proofs oi a marked revival (.states tho "jitorning Post"). Mr. Herbert Samuel, tho British Government's Special Commissioner to Belgium, who lias-just returned to London, has given his views on tho present position in Belgium to a representative. Four mouths .-.lter tlio sifimturo of tlho armistice, he said, the internal economic condition of Belgium remained serious. The great majority of the workpeople in tho towns were unemploy;d, raw material and machinery wore lacking, the eyport tradu was non-existent. To-day, saysilv. Samuel, "all llho staplo industries are ai wol-k, and though some of them, paityo'.larly the iron and steel trade, iia\e been injured so ruthlessly by tho Germans during the occupation that tho resumption of work is in many cn6os still only partial, there can bo 110 doubt tihat a v;avc of economic activity is spreading over tlio country, and tliali there is in consequence a far more hopeful spirit among the people. The number of unemployed is still large, but shows a remarkable improvement since I visited the various industrial districts of Belgium in February last. Destroyed hous?s linvo been rebuilt Ihero and {here, but tlio progress of rebuilding along the battle-front is still very slow. Tho railways are woiking, With, tho help of a great quantity of German rolling stock, surrendered in accordance with tho terms of the armistice, almost as they wero before 1110 war, and tho canals, wih-ere injured, are gradually being restored. Sinco tho beginning of the year the prices of staple commodities linvo fallen by about 50 per cent, fiom tlio famine rates which then prevailed, but they are still from two to three times wlirnt they were -beforo tlio war. Tho banks liaTO large deposits, but much of tlicso represents tho working capital of the country, which is not vet fully employed. Soyeral British banks have opened branches in Brussols and Antwerp, combinations are flaking plac-e between British. and Belgian industrial groups, and there is likely to be a'AOven larger— perhaps a far larger—commercial intercourse between tho two countries than existed boforo the wnr."

Mission With Many Problems,

Dealing with the results of his mission, Sir. Samuel said a. cordial welcome was givon to tho commission by the Belgian Government, and for three and a half months, assisted by a capable staff, 110 dealt in Brussels with' a variety of matters affecting the economic relations of the two countries. Financial credits in the United Kingdom for the benefit of Bclgf/um; t'he arrangement of |cirodit facilities in India for the purchaso of raw materials needed in Belgium; a number of questions arising out of tjio restrictions imposed until recently upon imports into the United Kingdom from Belgium as from other countries; the supply of raw material to Bolgium, particularly zinc, wool, and flax; the provision of cattle to icplenish the depleted Belgian stocks—these were somo of the matters which engaged the attention of the commission.

Tho British Admiralty undertook the extensive and difficult works at tho porta of Ostend nnd Zeebrugge, freeing iliein from the obstructions, and making good the destructions of war; and this country would gladly havo undertaken other works had it been desired by the Belgians, but, said Mr. Samuel, not unnaturally tlioy preferred that in those devastated areas the work of reconstruction should bo done under tho direction of their own engineers.

Favouring Antwerp. Tho question of the restoration of the trado of tho port of Antwerp was another of tho matters that engaged the attention of tho commission, particularly in relation to the supplies to tho British aniuM on the Rhine. Belgian public opinion regarded with a very unfavourable pyo tho passage of large quantities of supplies through tho rival port of Rotterdam, and, contrasting the respective attitudes of Belgium and of Holland during tho war, considered that Antwerp was entitled to tho preference. The force of this contention, was recognised, and almost Iho whole of the supplies for tho Army of tho .Rhine has for some time, passed through the Belgian portA large number of minor points and Individual grievances were dealt with; and sinco the commission was in direct communication wth all tho Government Denartmenls in London matters wcro pressed through witli expedition. A commercial Secretariat jm.s now been appointed to the British .Embassy in Brussels, working in connection with the Department of Overseas Trade, and through its agency many of tho matters which Mr. Samuel had in hand, and which aro not entiroly concluded, will be brought to completion. Change of Tone. Whilo the Commission has been at work a decided change has como over tho attitude of the Belgians to this country. When the Mission went out—its object being to assist in the reconstruction of Belgium—the enthusiasm for the. Allies which had existed during the war had decidedly cooled, the opinion being held that, the war being over, the Allies in general were indifferent to the fulfilment of their promisos to tho small nation, and thero_ was some danger that a sentiment of alienation, if not of hostility, 'would spread over Belgium. All this is now changed. The Belgians have seen that Great Britain was desirous of fulfilling her promises, and to-day thero is, says Mr. Samuel among all classes marked good will_ towards tho United Kingdom and a desire, constantly exmvsscd, for an over closer friendship. He thinks tho commercial prospects of Belgium are as good as those of any other European country. The Freedom of tho Scheldt. Referring to tho negotiations with Holland, Mr. Samuel said: "At the moment Belgian public opinion is much exercised over the questions in negotiation with Holland, particularly tho freedom of the Scheldt and tho defence of tho Belrian eastern frontier, now seriously prejudiced by the difficult contour caused by the existence of tl'.e Dutch Limbourg enclave. I believe that the Belgian nation, while not seeking changes of an annexationist character, aro resolved to sccure such modifications as they consider essential to their economic develomnent and military security. ' They look to the Great Powers foi; their effective support in achieving these ends."

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19191125.2.58

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 52, 25 November 1919, Page 7

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,031

BELGIAN REVIVAL Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 52, 25 November 1919, Page 7

BELGIAN REVIVAL Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 52, 25 November 1919, Page 7

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