New-York tribune., 1919-03-23
s;,uation Still Far From
Normal, but Week End
Brings Big Improvement
and Hope Fof Settlement
Workers Press Demands
Miners Will Not Strike Be-
| fore Wednesday; Rail
Employees Reject Offer
By Arthur S. Draper

Nosr York Tribune
Foreign Gable SerUice
.s.,eht. 1919 New York Tribune Inc)
rinNDON, March 22.-The weeks end
!. brighter than it began. The indus
liz, storm seems to be passing over
ihsrks to be sound sense of the British
I,rknan and the British employer.
h,st when catastrophe seems inevitable
british judgment rallies and danger is
,vsv.ed. As it reads the news the pub
lie grows more bifoyant and optimistic,
,or the parade OF the British Guards
,,.aav through the London streets re-
saIs sharply the disheartening situa-
.;on Of twelve months ago, when these,
Isme picked soldiers We're struggling
In the plains of Picardy against the,
Essers hordes.
The British miners will not strike
| ,,t;l Wednesday. The railWaymen will
continue working while the executives
IL the triple alliance negotiates with
,he government and the transport
workers will continue on the same con-
Tediators between the railwaymen and
(he government Robert Smillie, j. II.
Ehomas and Mr.. Brownie, far from
haine Bolsheviki, who would lead labor
snto a revolt against the state, are
fhrewd, clever and powerful states
men who have the national as we'll as
their class interest at heart. 1t is
fortunate for Britain that this formid
sbIe labor combination, which could
baralyEe the nation and increase the
distress all over Europe, is led by men
of their callbre.
Conditions Still Abnormal
Conditions are still far from normal.
No one can forecast the purchasing
salue Of money six months hence. The
problem OF winning peace Is no less
COMPLICATED than that of winning the
kar, but progress toward an era of
Rood understanding, not only between
Individuals and classes, but also be-
tween nations, has been made during
the last two weeks.
| Though Britain is by no means out
| bt the woods in her. labor crisis, there
|ss no doubt that latest developments
have brought signs Of daylight | have
Neglected details because the solution
sf the great problems of the moment
Depends upon the removal of suspicion
knd the breaking down of prejudices
In the individual nations and not upon
betty details The big point that I
Want to report is that there is better
understanding all around.
Whether the domestic problems can
be solved satisfactpHilg before the in
ternational settlement lis reahed or
rontrariwise is debatable. What is
happening now : is san effort to solve
them simultaneously. There is plenty
pf disquieting news, suchas that from
Egypt where riotous demonstrations
have forced the hurried return of Cen
eral Allenby from Russia.
Situation Called Grave
LONDON, March % (By The Asso-
ciated Press ).-Repres of the
miners, railwaymen and transport
gorkers conferred with government
leaders in Dowslig Street for an hour
snd half to-day in an effort to end
the deadlock between the railwaymen
snd the employers. After the confer.
sace the railwaymen' leaders went to
report to their conference, declaring
that the situation was grave.
According TO one report, the railway
men rejected an offer of an increase
IN wages which would cost 90,000,000
pounds annually and insisted on de-
hands which would cost 120,00o,000
bounds