BRITISH COAL DEADLOCK

Evening Star, Issue 19375, 8 October 1926, Page 4

BRITISH COAL DEADLOCK

GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS TIME-LIMIT ULTIMATUM. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON. October 6, Apropos of the minors’ delegate com ferenoe to-morrow, which will receive the results of the district voting upon the Government’s peace proposals, Mr Baldwin has written to Mr Cook pointing out that the Government has already extended the time limit for the acceptance of the proposals, and a further extension is not permissible. Consequently to-morrow’s" conference must accept or reject the proposals. If they are rejected the offer must be regarded as withdrawn.

POSITION REVIEWED,

IMPORTANT ISSUES,

LONDON, October 6,

Mr Baldwin’s ultimatum is connected with the delegate conference of the minors to-morrow, also with the Unionist conference at Scarborough, which he intends addressing in the evening. Mr Baldwin is aware of the growing Unionist disfavor of Government intervention in industrial disputes, and he wants to know where he stands with the miners. The general expectation is that tomorrow’s conference ol the minors will bo inconclusive, which will moan the total withdrawal of the Governinmit’s offer and a gradual dribbling back of the men to work under the best local settlements that arc possible. The executive, realising the hopelessness of the struggle, may suggest a ballot of tiro whole of the coalfields, and meanwhile ask the Government to extend its offer for a fortnight longer. VOICE OF THE CHURCH. LONDON, October 6. “ Are we simply to form a ring and stand helplessly around hoping that the combatants will come to terms, or have all of us, as citizens of a country of which coal is the key industry, an inevitable share in the responsibility?” asked the Archbishop of Canterbury in an address to tlio Diocesan Conference. “ Let no man say without challenge that industrial problems can safely bo left to the experts and the play of economic forces. Those who feel keenly that moral principles are involved in such disputes have a keen watch to keep, and a relevant opinion to express.” This is the first occasion upon which the Archbishop of Canterbury has intervened since the general strike. MR COOK’S COMMENT. LONDON, October 6. Mr Cook said ho welcomed the Primate’s utterance, and declared that a negotiated peace was more in the country’s interest than terms enforced by coercion and starvation. PROPOSALS REJECTED SAFETY MEN TO BE WITHDRAWN. LONDON, October 7. (Received October 8, at 10.10 a.m.) The Miners’ Conference rejected the Government proposals by 737,000 votes to 42,000. The conference overwhelmingly decided to withdraw the safety men.