The Washington herald., 1921-04-18
Prospect of Labor Peace
Still Remote Despite
Alliance Break.
CRITICAL CONDITION
FACED BY COUNTRY
Suffering of People Acute
Because of Great Coal
Shortage.
Especial Cable to Washington Herald and
United Hsvs)
BY A. Il. JOHNSON.

LONDON. April 17.-whle the
paralyzing effect OF a general strike
has been averted. England's indus
trial losses are steadily mounting.
unemployment is increasing. and the
nation still faces a critical situa-
ton.
Prospects of a settlement of he
coal strike are remote. Indications
are that the miners are determined
to carry on singlc-handed. The pub
tic, for the moment, is given u re-
joicing and Thanksgiving for deliv-
terance from the general strike. but
the government has let up In no way
it's efforts in event of more serious
developments in the coal situation.
1t is generally felt that the indus
trial problem has not been solved.
but merely postponed.
Recruits stIII Sought.
Recruits are still being enlist ed.
and last night announcement was
made of the establishment of a coal
ration Of "a half-hundred-weig
weekly for an indefinite period. The
railways are curtailing coal con-
sumption an additional 10 per cent.
making a total reduction of 35 per
cent in the amount used by the
transportation lines.
Meantime suffering and desolation
is widespread in the mining dts
tricts. Applications for relief have
increased 1000 per cent in South
Wales. Bsck-country towns are en-
tirely without coal. The weather
in that region has been extremely
severe for the past four days. There
have been nurries' OF snow and all
OF the hardships Of winter have been
endured.
Strike Funds Gone.
The union strike funds are dis
sipated and thousands of miners are
facing the choice OF starvation for
themselves and their families 1T q
return to the pits.
Additional colleries are being
abandoned daily because Of food
ing. and others are becoming en-
tirely waterlogged.
In Derbyshire and Nottingham
shire the mine owners are offering
work to the men and expect a par
tial resumption within the next few
days The Welsh and Scottish mi
ners, on the other hand, are ex-
| tremely determined and bitter
against the triple alliance. which
they charge is guilty of black
treason in deserting them.
To Import ConI.
The government is preparing to
import coal from Canada for the
Use of the navy. Ample supplies.
II is claimed, can be obtained from
Nova Scotia. Meantime the mine
! owners continue to advance peace
offers.
Our offer to forego profits holds
good" Lord Gainsford declares. I'VE
are willing and anxious to resume
conferences but we have no new
proposals"
Parliament, elated at the initial
success which marked its interven-
tion, is considering the introduction
of additional legislation looking to-
ward minimizing the danger of gen
eral strikes in the future. Coupled
with the Parliamentary elation
there is some feeling against Pre-.
mier. Lloyd George for aIIege,, usur-
patton Of power This was ex-
pressed in a statement by Lord Ask =
with. one of the leading Industrial
authorities of the country.
nau~ Ml-lstr-
TT Is to be regretted that a set
tlement of the coal controversy
could not have been hastened, com
ing as II does during one of the
worst trade depressions the country
has experienced" said Lord Ask
with. But the owners and miners
were without guidance. or opportu-
nifty for conciliation and settle
ment. 1t is unfortunate that the
cabinet ministers then entered the
struggle. despite their declarations
of impartiality. as IL they were a
party to the dispute.
Parliament stepped in because
1t felt 1t had been ignored in con-
ferences on matters affecting the
entire nation. 1t found the coun-
try on the brink of civil war. The
facts are the public was at first ig-
nored, and Parliamentary procedure
was not followed when a great ma
tional crisis was imminent"