Dublin Trades Council And Belgian Refugees

At the meeting of the Dublin Trades' Council this week, a discussion took place on the question of the "Belgian Refugees and Fair Labour." Mr. Simmons remarked that if anyone said anything against the refugees nowadays he was liable to martyrdom (laughter). Charity, however, began at home.

He had no objection to the Belgians themselves. They were a fine, industrious people—a brave race. But as it appeared they wanted soldiers at the front—in Ypres and other places—and if it was a fact they were so concerned about their own country, they ought to be out fighting beside their fellow-countrymen instead of coming here looking for charity. A lot of crocodile tears had been shed about the sufferings of the Belgians, but had not the people of this country suffered in the past?

If, as Sir John French said, there was only a handful of British soldiers fighting, surely these Belgians were needed at the front. They in Ireland had enough to do minding their own business. He had heard that a number of these refugees had already taken the jobs of Irish tradesmen, and that a number of servant girls had been dismissed to make room for Belgians. He protested against the Belgians coming over to supplant the workers of this country.

Mr. T. Farren said that if these people did get employment here they should at least get the conditions that applied amongst the trades. They should be made communicate with the different trade societies. He moved to this effect. Mr. W. Murphy said the manly attitude of the Belgian should be to take his stand with his rifle and protect his country. It was a rather serious thing if these refugees were to be planted here and cause further unemployment amongst the people.

Mr. [ed: James] Connolly thought Mr. Farren's resolution a very dangerous one, as it involved that if the refugees complied with what was laid down in the resolution they (the Council) had nothing more to complain of. Provided the position was an ordinary one, with no war in question, and these people came to this country they ought to be welcomed no matter what their nationality might be. But the present position was an extraordinary one. It was not a case of a man or two men, but a possible case of a whole army being dumped down here.

He was opposed to the resolution because it implied that no matter what number was dumped down they accepted them and undertook to work harmoniously along with them. This was no war of theirs and the people of this country had no interest in it or in the Allies. He believed the Belgian people had been dragged into it by the machinations of their Government, and the Government having brought them into it should look after them.

The British had called on them to preserve their neutrality—which was not threatened for a moment—and said they would stand behind them. They did stand behind them—so much so that the Belgians did not know they were there (laughter). The Belgian people, he believed, had been sold by their Government for something which they could only guess at. While carefully avoiding saying anything against the Belgians, they ought not to do anything that would give the employers in this country a chance to "sack" Irish workers and take on Belgian employees.

They ought not to give any loophole to the employers. If it was true these Belgians had fought for their own neutrality then they should not be brought here to supplant the workers of Ireland but as a charge on the British Empire (applause). Mr. R. L. Wigzell asked how would the position of Irish women and girls be affected by the importation of the refugees. Mr. Connolly said they should be equally concerned for the position of the women as the men. Mr. Farren's motion was not discussed further.

[Editor's note: This is an extract from Arthur Griffith's nationalist periodical Éire on the given date.]