PEACE ON EARTH COMES TO MEN OF GOODWILL, SAYS MR BALDWIN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17836, 3 May 1926, Page 10

PEACE ON EARTH COMES TO MEN OF GOODWILL, SAYS MR BALDWIN.

LONDON, May 2. “ Keep steady. Remember that peace on earth comes to men of goodwill.” was the message Mr Baldwin wirelessly broadcasted to the nation last evening. The Prime Minister’s use of this medium of communication is interesting in view of the reported intention of the Government to commandeer the British Broadcasting Company in the event of the closing down of the Press. Referring to this suggested possibility, an official statement issued at the close of a long sitting of the Trade Union Congress during the afternoon says that the General Council of the Congress is arranging direct communication with the officies of the trades unions, to which all authoritative reports and announcements will be made direct, and warns trades unionists to take no notice of any statement that may be broadcast wirelessly or circulated in any other form.

There is a possibility of an important develepment in the crisis. Last evening, on the invitation of the Prime Minister, the Trade Union Congress Negotiating Committee had a lengthy conference with the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet. It is understood that during the. course of the meeting the. Trade Union Congress representatives stated that if the resumption of negotiations were immediate there was a prospect that the threat of a general strike, which was due to begin at midnight on Monday, would not be carried ovit.

The congress representatives, it is understood, contend that, owing to the

•lateness of the owners’ offer, presented to them on Friday evening, there was no time for real negotiations on that offer.