The New York herald., 1921-04-08
Strikers Insist OH National
Pool and Wage-Unwilling
to Man Pumps First to
Avoid Destruction.
MANY TROOPS ARE MOVED
Food Siege Ahead Worse Than
U-Boat Days if Threat Of
General Tieup Of Trans
port Goes Into Effect.
BY J. McH. STUART.

BY j. McH. STUART.
seec;ol cable to THE NEW YosK HrasiD.
Cesvrlch:, 1891. by THE NEw IoEK HExAln
New York Herald Bureau,
London. April :.
| Actual social war in Great Britain
still hangs in the balance tonight.
Negotiations in the mincrs' dispute
had broken down, with food and fire
meaac.ng the most extensive founda-
tion OF Britain's greatness. her coal
mines. when Premier Lloyd George.
with ono of his characteristic last
minute actions, brought new hope that
more Serious consequences might be
| averted.
/ He announced in the House of Com
! mons tonight that the Government
was willing to take part in a confer
ence 10 discuss the problem OF keeping
| the mine pumps going before taking
| up the question Of wages. hours and
| other matters between owners and
men. He made il plain that he was
eager to avoid any possible charge
/ that the crisis was caused by any
Misunderstanding OF terms, however
slight The Prime Minister said he
would submit his proposal to the
miners in writing tonight so as TO
give them a chance formally to accept
or refuse a conference under these
| conditions tomorrow morning.
Conferences and Failures.
Tonight prominent political leaders,
including cx-Premier Asquith, Lord
Robert Cecil. Arthur Henderson and
John Robert Clyncs. are working hard
in an endeavor to induce the miners TO
relent on the question OF pumping.
| II was q day of hectic conferences
IN Downing Street, in Parliament and
at the headquarters Of the miners,
transport workers and railway mems
unions. Mr.. Lloyd Georges most
I facile efforts failed 10 induce the
miners 20 enter into conference with
I the owners. The miners refused 70
4 order the pumpmcn and other main
i tenaHce vo.lsa-s back 10 work before
Il beginning negotiations with the mine
J owners, insisting that so doing would
\ deprive them OF their most formidable
weapon in their fight for a living
wage. Premier Lloyd George and the
| owners refuse TO negotiate while the
actual safety of the mines. Involving
the entire life OF the country and en-
pire, remains at stake. 1t was over this
/ that the conference between the Gov
ernnlent and the miners broke down
In Downing Street this morning.
The railway men meanwhile lined up
solidly with the transport workers be-
| hind the miners and II no settlement
4 IL reached within the next forty-eigllt
! hours II is certain that not only the
mines, but the entire transportation
system OF the country will suffer .
\ blight.
4 Public Sentiment In Divided.
\ The Government is prepared 10 meet
i THIS sta;e Of siege IN a tvotold fashion.
\ /, has an organization and detailed
scheme Tor a volunteer transport sys-
\ ten for the distribution OF the neces-
saries OF life with Official control and
FtAtV.llA& So tNttA t4kca4 hAsa AAltilE ssiI@s
\ the dire days OF 1918 when the SUBJ
marines slrnosr starved Great Britain
Also It is organising political opinion
against labor n is hard 10 tell how
Tho public sentiment generally will turn.
lfalf the people IN tho streets curse tho
miners for c.cir scifishness aud the
other hslt curse the Government Tor
It's Thickness While there is some
ground 70 believe that there will be r
rush Of hundreds of thousands of un-
employed former army men 70 ge' any
kind of service under tive Government
scheme 70 protect the mines and keep
the transports and railways going. there
Is also a fear that millions more who
soon arc 10 be unemployed and hungry
through cessation OF industry may gee
/ rcd. and In the words OF one labor leader
tonight. anything NAV happen
4 Government and labor leaders are
4 s.ressing tie two points mentioned. The
Government charges that the miners are
attaching the whole structure of Brit
isn Industry by dcst-o. lns tho mines.
undermining the whole system of con-
i stitutionrl government ana attempting
K thus 10 force taxpayers 70 subsifize one
7 class Of workers.
Labor leaders on tho other hnnd IN
siet that Premier Lloyd George triclsed
them into this position ~ the last mo-
ment md their spokesmen again and
again insisted In the House Of Commons
last night that they are willing 70 enter
into conference vita the owners WITH
out previous condition.
To this the Prime Minister'S invaria.
BIZ answer was that thoy had announced
that they would not order tho safety
men back 10 work unless al workers
went back. involving Government sub.
sidy. or unless the owners agreed 10