LAST HOPE VANISHES

Northern Advocate, 4 May 1926, Page 5

LAST HOPE VANISHES

GENERAL STRIKE IMMINENT

trade unions support miners

DARK OUTLOOK IN BRITAIN

Forebodings of a great industrial upheaval in Great Britain were verified shortly after midnight on Sunday, in a breakdown of "the pourparlers between the Ministry and mining leaders, and the Homeland is now confronted with a strike of incalculable proportions, the railways employees being the first of the great public services to give .notice of cessation of emploorment, in sympathy with the strike of coalminers. In accordance with threatened action, it appears inevitable that many cjther publicly vital organisations and industries will enter the lists in challenge of constituted authority.

FINAL BREAKDOWN CABINET ACCEPTS CHALLENGE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. (Received 9.30 a.m.)

LONDON, May 2. The unexpected recall of the mining leaders to London at midnight to seo Mr. Baldwin gave hopes, but the Cabinet finally broke up at 12.30 a.m., when it was officially announced that the negotiations to avert a general strike had broken down.

An official from Dowming Street at one o’clock this morn' ing says that the following decision of the Government has been conveyed to night to Mr. Pugh, chairman of the Trades Union Congress Committee: —

“Tho Government believes that no solution of the difficulties in the coal industry -which is both practicable and honourable to all concerned can Be reached except by sincere acceptance of tho report of the Commission. In expressing acceptance of the report is included both reorganisation of the industry, .which should be put in hand immediately, and, pending the results of reorganisation being attained, such interim adjustment of wages dr hours of work as make it economically possible to carry on the industry. Meantime, if the miners, or the Trade Union Committee on their behalf, were prepared to say plainly that they accept this proposal, the Government would have been ready to resume negotiations and continue the subsidy .for a fortnight; but since tho discussions between Ministers and members of the Trade Unions Committee it has come to the knowledge of the Government no't only that specific instructions have been sent under authority of the executives of the Trade Unions represented at the conference convened by the General Council of tho Trade Union Congress, asking their members in several most vital industries and services in the country to carry out a general strike on Tuesday next, but that overt acts have already occurred, including gross interference with the freedom of the Press. Such action involves a challenge to the constitutional rights and freedom of the nation. The Government, therefore, before it can continue negotiations, must require from the Trade Union Committee both repudiation of the actions referred to that have already occurred, and immediate unconditional withdrawal of the instructions for a general strike. ’ ’ —Router.

RAILWAY MEN’S UKASE NOTICES SERVED. TERMINATION OP EMPLOYMENT (Received 9.30 a.m.)

LONDON, May 2. The railway companies have received notices of ithe termination of employment tomorrow.

The Great Western Railway has appealed to its employees to remain loyal and let the mining industry settle its disputes directly.—Reuter.

NEWSPAPER HELD UP. LOYALIST ARTICLE DEPRECIATED. (Received £L3O a.m.) LONDIN, May 2. The “Daily Mail” is not publishing today, owing to the printers refusing to permit publication of a leading article calling on law-abiding citizens to hold themselves in readiness for services of the King and country.— Reuter.

JUBILANT GERMANS, PREVENTION OP TRANSPORT. URGED ON RUHR WORKERS. (Received 9 a.m.) BERLIN, May 2. Developments in the British coal dispute are being watched with interest in Germany. German mineowners, •who have recently been suffering from British competition, are pleased at the prospect of regaining their share of the world's coal trade, wrested from them by British mines. Leaders of the (Socialist and Communist parties are urging German miners to do their utmost to help their British colleagues. They express the opinion that they will be able to prevent direct transport of tToal from the Ruhr to Britain, and are negotiating with Dutch labour unions with a view to preventing German coal reaching Britain' via Holland. —Reuter.

FACTION FRAY. FASCISTS AND COMMUNISTS. (Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 2. Two Communists and three British Fascists were arrested in Hyde Park after a series of day-long skirmishes between the factions. The police drew their batons and called upon mounted troops to disperse a crowd which was trying to rescue the arrested Com.munists.—Reuter.