New-York tribune., 1920-10-24
Brighter Outlook forCom.
promise Discerned as
Result of Conference
Scheduled for To-day
Sympathetic Strike
Action Is Postponed
Threat of Union Control
by Radicals Most Omi-
nous Note in the Crisis
By Arthur s. Draner

From The Tribune's European Bureau
copyright. 1920 New York Tribune IncD
LONDON, Oct. 23-Leaders of the
Miners Federation have accepted an in
vltatlon from Premier Lloyd George to
meet representatives of the government
tomorrow morning in a conference to
seek a basis for settlement Of the
strike.
This first renewal Of negotiations
since moro than 100000 miners walked
out last Sunday has frightened the
outlook, for the Premier's invitation is
accepted as indicating his willingness
to compromise, where before the gov
ernment had stood firm against the
miners demands
The railwaymen, when informed that
the miners and the government were
arranging for peace negotiations, i'm
mediately decided to postpone in
definitely their sympathetic strike
which was to tie up every railroad in
the country tomorrow night. The
transport workers, who also had
planned a strike to aid the miners, are
expected to delay action pending the
outcome of the negotiations.
The conferences looking toward
settlement began to-day Immediately
upon the arrival in London of the
executive Of the Miners Federation,
and extended far into the night The
Premier, who with most Of his min
lsters, is remaining in town this week
end, discussed the situation with the
miners executive before the latter
went into conference with the rail
way men.
Radicals Still an Obstacle.
The outlook for an early settlement
is much brighter tonight than in sew
eral days, but the situation is still
grave, as the extremists among the
workers may not accept the advice of
their leaders.
The bill for the restitution of war
powers which the government has given
notice it will press through the House
OF Commons Monday is expected to
meet some opposition, but there is no
question that it will pass without de-
lay, as Lloyd George can get ANYTHING
ne wants from the present House. The
BILL of which Edward Short. the Home
Secretary, gave notice Saturday, gives
the government emergency power to
prevent interference with food supplies
and transportation.
The strike situation, wide uncmplov-
ment and the unrest in ireland have
combined to alarm British observers to
the point where they fear that "the ma
ton is on the very edge of the preci-
pice,' to use the words of the editor of
The New Statesman. Although this
writer sees no possibility of Great Brit
ain accepting the principles of Boil
shevism or revolutionary movement
against constitutional government, he
believes "thc labor movement is less
disposed or able to resist revolutionary
methods to-day than could have been
imagined a couple Of years ago" largely
because faith in Parliament has been
lost
Editors See Gloomy Outlook
The editor of The Westminster Ga
zette also takes a gloomy view, de-
claring: eve need the coolest common
sense if we arc to get through this
emergency without disaster"
Conservative organs, such az The
Morning Post and The Saturday Re
view, draw equally drab pictures, but
they suggest bold, strong strokes on
the part Of the government instead of
the lodging and faltering which has
gone on between labor and the govern
mcnt for many months"
LONDON, Oct. 23 (By The Associated
Press The invitation for q confer
ence of the government and the miners
came from Premier Lloyd George, who
wrote to Frank Hodges, Of the miners
union, on learning that the miners ex-
ecutive had returned to London, that
both before and after the discussion in
the House of Commons Tuesday the
Cabinet had been examining the posi-
bilities of finding d peaceful solution
and stating that the government was
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