The Daily News. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1916. BELGIAN DISTRESS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1916. BELGIAN DISTRESS.

During the course of the war the Britis Foreign Minister, Sir Edward Grey, mus have had many painful tasks to face but it would seem that the meinorandun he lias recently forwarded to the Belgi an Minister, in response to frequent re presentations as to the impending mil of Belgian industries ami universal un employment, was one of the most tryiiij ordeals he has had to meet. The hear of every true Britisher is filled with th deepest pity for the brave Belgian people and with the most intense sorrow fo their terrible plight through being unde: the iron heel of the remorseless Huns Practical evidence of this has been af forded throughout the Empire by tin generous contributions made to the fundi for the relief of the Belgians, but it ii not difficult to understand that whai these courageous and long-suffering peopV feel most keenly is not being able t( help themselves. If Belgium was cleai of the enemy there would not lie tin slightest difficulty in speedily reinstating the people in their agricultural, industri al and otiier pursuits; but the Huns ar in possession, and it is absolutely be yond the pale of practical polity to sem to Belgium goods that would immediate ly he seised and utilised by these voraci ous barbarians. In explaining the posi tion of affairs, Sir 15. Grey alludes to tin feeling among the Belgians that thei distress is attributable solely to tin action of the Allies in preventing imports it being contended that this action doe not appreciably harm Germany, whil it involves a painful loss to the Belgians Tlie answer to that is obvious—Belgiai industry cannot be maintained witliou considerable gain to the enemy—and ye in spite of this risk the British Govern ment, in its anxiety to assist th Belgians, had permitted certain export from Belgium, and had also permittei the importation of raw material throug! the Relief Commission, but the Govern ment required a guarantee by the Ger mans that such goods should not b requisitioned. A scheme to that effec was submitted to the Germans fou months ago, but no reply was reccivei thereto, nor is it likely that the Ger mans would agree, for Belgium is beini used to supply the Germans, who ar determined, says Sir K. Grey, to ente into no arrangement for the relief o Belgium "until they have taken Iron the country the last ounce of materia and caused widespread destitution, fore ing the people to emigrate to Germany.' The figures he quotes in support of thi; assertion cannot fail to carry conviction If. is Germany's policy of revenge to im poverish the country, and none shnulc know this better than the Belgians them, selves. To blame Britain for the present state of the Belgians is neither fair noi just. They are the unfortunate victims of circumstances, and they must know that Britain would gladly meet all their needs if the people would benefit, bat it would only be a suicidal policy to send goods to Belgium merely to be seized and appropriated by the enemy. The world at large feels very keenly the bitter experience which has fallen to the hrave Belgian people. A< little more patience, the maintenance of their courage, and they will assuredly enter into their own again, but for the present Germany must certainly be prevented from profiting by mistaken kindness on the part of Belgium's friends.