New-York tribune., 1921-04-05
Government Said to Have
Decided Upon Military
Steps, With Almost I'm
limited OperatingPow
PROGRAM Covers
Rails and Ships
Admiralty Cancels All
Leave; Strikers Eject
Workers From tie Pits

LONDON, April (By The Associ-
ated Press The signs tonight point
to the dispute between the coal miners
and the government drifting in the di-
rection Of the most serious industrial
crisis in recent years.
There are rumors that the govern
ment has decided upon certain mill
tary steps. which are likely still fur
ther to inllame the miners. while fur
ther emergency regulations will be is
sued in accordance with orders in
council giving the various govern
mental departments almost unlimited
powers to take possession of mines,
lands, buildings, works, gas, electric
and water supplies, horses, food and
forage and to requisition all kinds Of
transport, including tramways and
light railways, to close ports or har-
bors, control shipping and cargoes, fix
prices of coal and prohibit or regulate
the sale and supply of motor fuel
Much may depend upon the attitude
of the government as revealed by the
debate in the House of Commons,
which Premier Lloyd George has an
nounced for tomorrow. Wednesday,
will be the critical day, deciding
whether the other sections of the
triple allance-thc railway and trans
port workers will strike in support of
the miners.
Admiralty Cancels Leave
1t is announced that the Admiralty
has cancelled all leave.
The Prince of Wales, on the advice
of the government. has cancelled his
proposed visit to Norwich Wednesday.
Premier Lloyd George told the House
of Commons to-day, in answer to a
question, that the British government
was most anxious 10 Investigate every
suggestion to see if solution of the
coal strike may not be found.
The Prime Minister declared he was
fully alive to the Importance Of giving
every assistance possible and said that
he hoped within twenty-four hours the
Commons would have an opportunity
to discuss the question fully.
Mr.. Lloyd George presided at a Cab
met committee meeting tonight, those
IN attendance including Sir Robert S.
Horne, Sir Eric Geddcs and T. J. Mac
Namara, to discuss the situation, which
also was considered by the Parlamen-
tary Labor party in consultation with
the miners leaders.
Alliance May Delay Action
The balance Of opinion tonight is
tkat the triple alliance will refrain
from the declaration Of general
strike until it is certain that attempts
at a peaceful settlement are hopeless
The press still is clinging to the
hope that peace negotiations will be in
sttutcd in time to prevent general
stoppagc and solve the miners dispute
The railwaymen strongly favor a
strike, on the ground that when the
railways are taken out of governm ent
control similar situation may arise.
and uSless they support the miners
now they cannot expect the miners
support should they need it at that
time.
Moderate opinion is concentrating in
favor of the suggestion offered on Sat
urday by Alfred Bigland, Coalition
Unionist, that the so-called dc,control
bill should be rescinded and the time
limit for control fixed for May 80, in
stead of March 81, thereby giving time
for discussion and arrangement Of the
wages question and the education OF
the miners to the real industrial posi-
ton at home and abroad.
John Robert Clynes and Arthur Hen
derson, the most Independent OF the
Liberals, intend to press this sugges-
ton upon the government tomorrow.
Subsidy on Public Opposed
IT is believed that the government
will refuse to accept this suggestion
and that the Premier will base his
position upon the simple proposition
that it is impossible for the country in
the present state of its finances to bear
any further burden in the form Of a
subsidy to the miners.
The anti-governmental press openly
accuses Premier Lloyd George Of trying
to mareuver the Labor party into &
false position, whereby he could appeal
to the country against the labor policy
of direct action and Bolshevism.
These newspapers recall the Prime Min
ister's recent attack on the revolution.
airy and socialistic tendencies of the
Labor party, and they appeal to the
labor leaders, especially the miners, tt
abandon the extreme policy Of wreck
ing the mines by flooding and refusing
all discussion of the mine owners pro
posals. By their present attitude, the
papers say, they arc only playing into
the Premier's hands.
From, The Tribune's European Bureau
Copyright. 1921. New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, April 4.-Disorder broke
; out in the coal fields to-day, when strik
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