The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-10
GENERAL STRIKE
 MAY BE AVERTED
 BY NEGOTIATIONS
Conference for Monday Is Ar ranged Internationally, De- clares Secretary Hodges
 of the Miners Union
By Associated Press


 coal miners, which threatened to car ry with it general strike of the railway men and transport workers, seems now to be in a fair way of settlement through negotiations.
 The dispute throughout has been
 frnitfuI of surprises, and another
 one was sprung tonight, when, aft-
 CT conferences and interviews be-
 tween the parties concerned last
 ing all day long, and when it was
 supposed that all efforts to move
 the miners had proved ineffectuaL
 1t was suddenly announced taht the
 mincrs had yielded and that a con
 ference with the coal owners had
 been convened for Monday to dis
 cuss the questions involved, while
 notices were sent to the mining
 districts urging restraint from any
 action that would interfere with
 the measures for the safety of the
 mines.
 as to what inducements were offered to the miners to assent to steps as- snring the safety of the mine owners property is the somewhat cryptic statement of Frank Hodges, secretary of the miners union--"the conference was arranged unconditionally."
 Whether the rumors that the gov er1ment is willing that the wage ques- ton should be adjusted on a national basis may be held to explain the change in the situation is unknown. If, as MT. Hodges suggests. the govern ment and mine owners have really agreed to a conditional conference, that would be sufficient to induce the min CTS to yield the pumping point. In any case, the unexpected agreement gives the liveliest hopes that the struggle which would have swept the country will be avertcd-
 HENDERSON CONFIDENT
 Arthur Henderson. the labor leader. who is in close touch with all the ne- gotiations although not personally concerned in today's meetings with Premier Lloyd George, was tonight full of confidence that there will be no general strike Tuesday.
 The executive committee of the triplo alliance, after a conference witu the premier, issued the following state- ment tonight:
 Tt has been agreed that: First, the
  ence of representatives of the miners federation and the coal owners at the board of trade at II o'clock Monday morning to discuss the question in dis pute between the two parties, and, second, the miners federation shall to- night issue notices to the federation's branches, urging the miners to abstain from any action interfering with meas Eres necessary for ensuring the safety of the mines. or necessifating the use of force by the government"
 The statement was issued by MT. Hodges and J. II. Thomas, secretary of the National Union of RaiIwaymen. and Mr. Thomas. in an interview, said it was the result of negotiations between the raiiwaymen, transport workers and the government. and had been accepted by the miners.
 The triple alliance will remain in permanent session during the negctia- tions in order, if necessary, to give ef- feet to their previous decision.
 Concerning the probability of set- clement, the Press association says:
 PUMPMEN MAY RETURN
 sThere is definite hope that the ne- gotiations will proceed smoothly and that not only will active intervention by the railway men and transport workers be averted, but that the min CTS stoppage will be ended. The early return of the pumpmen is possible"
 Throughout the day the representa- tives of the triple alliance continued their efforts to bring about negotia- tions between the miners and the gov ernment- After the third interview between . deputation of railway men and transport workers with the pre- mier at Downing street, lasting 90 minutes. J. H. Thomas and Harry Cos ling. leader of the transport workers, reported that the deputation was go ing to discuss matters again with the miners, but would not see the premier again until tomorrow
 At this conference Sir Eric Geddes, Lord Birkenhead, Sir Robert s. Hone. Austen Chamberlain and other mem bers of the government were present After this conference the prime min ister we6t to Buckingham palace and had an audience with the King.
 During tho course of the day it was sepcrted thA provided the pumping difficulty coa-d be surmounted, tho government vas not averse to nego- tiattng the wage, question on a na- tional basin, as claimed by the miners 1t is not absolutely certain, however, that the government will go that far with respect to wages.
 The cabinet today. sanctioned meas ures to ensure the safety of the mines. and patches of naval ratings were sent to Wales and Scotland to protect the volunteers and bumpers. together with additional troops to aid the civil au- thortttea in the maintenance of public ordex and essential national service.
 The war office announces that Lieu tenant General, the Earl of Cavan, has been appointed to the chief command of the London and Aldershot district. with headquarters at the Horse Guards for the present emergency.