The New York herald., 1921-04-14
Premier's Letter to Leaders
Offers the Sole Hope of
Averting Industrial
Catastrophe.
ALL TRANSPORT IN PERIL
Negotiations Continue to
Bring Miners and Owners
in Accord on Offers of the
Government.
BY j. McH. STUART.

by j. McH. STUART.
Special Cable to THE NEW YoRK HxsaLS-
Copyright, 1921, by THn NEw YonK HEEnB.
New York Herald bureau.
London, April Is.
While the Triple Alliance Of Brit
ish Labor announced tonight that
1t had called nationwide strike to
become effective at 10 o'clock Friday
night, and claimed the support in
this movement of other unions. there
is still one possibility of averting the
threatened industrial catastrophe.
This opening is found in a note which
the Prime Minister sent to the lead
ers OF the Triple Alliance to-day,
asking for the grounds upon which
they based their support Of the
miners refusal to accept the Gov
ernment's offer temporarily to aid
in keeping up wages. At the same
time it Is hoped here that the moder-
ates in the ranks of labor will exert
all their influence toward widening
this opening SO that negotiations tc
settle the labor dispute may be re
sumed.
Both Government and labor Rep
resentatives in the House OF Com
mons admitted tonight that the
gravity of the situation went beyond
words The Prime Minister, John r..
| Clynes, Labor leader, and Herbert Fl.
Asquith, Liberal leader, agreed that
| 1t was no time for debate. Mr..
Lloyd George, in announcing that the
Triple Alliance had notified him that
the strike would become effective
Friday night, expressed hope that
wiser counsel might prevail.
Concessions Unlikely.
1t IS known that what he meant
was that he had asked the mine
owners to indicate whether they could
not make wage concessions 10 the
men and that tonight the owners
are preparing schedule Of what
they think they can grant.
The mine owners S>mt that IL
will be little or nothing.
Secretary Hodges Of the Miners
Union denied that the miners would
refuse to enter into further negotis-
tions. The federation" he added.
'is always willing to negotiate. and,
In fact, negotiations must res :
come time
Despite tho strike call by the T l.
Alliance, the most powerful cr
body in Great Britain, many we n-
formed persons here tonight ,e-.t
whether such a general walko -
that ordered for Friday night v -
possible at this time. 1t was adf sr6
that this strike call was antic sea
by labor and also by the Cover etG
but, on the other hand. the RI ef
the National Federation OF T'rs vgr
Workers provide that they mu bste
LOT on strike question, and this in
itself win take time.
The members of the National Unicn
of Railwaymen. however, may be
called on strike without ballot By
the union membership. Also. It is
held that in many ranks OF labor a
general strike at this time IL not re
gnrded favorably.
The Triple Alliance issued a state-
ment tonight in which IL range
self solidly with the striking el
miners. 1t declared that no I s9t
union ever in the past acceptee
reductions in pay as II was now
posed to force on the miners
characterized "a "A disgrace to r te
unioniym Of the worid,r should 500
wage cuts be accepted by the min
Text OF Statement.
The statement said:
The Miners Federation fully rea
that the present position OF tho In.
dustry Is az bad as Il has ever been In
ifs history. They are prepared to do
their share in helping tho industry by
accepting a reduction in wages OF q
national and uniform character. but
not such as will reduce the miners t~-
low their prewar standard OF living.
I'VE arc fighting for trade union
rights as they ere understood By all
national organizations. We resent ths
suggestion made in Government quar-
ters that the miners fight Is political
one. We ere not procafming revoiu-
ton we are standing shoulder 90
shoulder for fundamental trade unioe
lights. II thce are denied us noe