The New York herald., 1921-04-12
PREMIER BRINGS
STRIKE CONFEREES
NEAR COMPROMISE
Hope for Settlement Grows
as Owners and Miners
Submit Cases.
OFFER LIKELY TO-DAY
Lloyd George Hints Tenn
porary Subsidy to Tide
Poorer Mines Over Crisis.
NO GOVERNMENT CONTROL
Treasury Cannot Offer Coal
Industry Any Permanent
Aid, He Insists.
10 GOVERNMENT CONTROL
BY J. MICH. STUART.

BY j. McH. STUART.
Special Gable to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1891. BIZ THE NEW York HEnALD.
New York Herald Burean,,
London. April IL.
Little progress was made up to to-
night toward reaching a settlement Of
the coal miners strike. The con-
ference between the mine owners. the
striking miners and the Government
adjourned after a lengthy technical
presentation Of their case by owners
and men, the Prime Minister express
ing a desire to study the data sub
mitted before proceeding with the con-
ference tomorrow morning. Tonight
he is engaged upon this task and hold
ing consultations at intervals with
representatives from all parties to the
dispute. To-inorrow's success or fail
ure is almost completely in the hands
of the welsh Wizard"
There was at one time to-day much
hope of settlement being arrived at.
Mr.. Lloyd George said the Government
was firm OH two points: First, there
would be no return to Government
control of the mines, and, second, there
would be no permanent aid for indus
try forthcoming from the treasury.
The words mo permanent aid' We're
emphasized and in some quarters in
terpreted as meaning that the Govern
ment was preparing to give tenn
porary subsidy to the poorer mines in
order to tide them over the present
crisis, until some basis could be
reached for the industry to carry its
own losses.
Division OF Losses.
But Mr.. Lloyd George, backed up by
Sir Robert Horne, now Chancellor OF
the Exchequer. made it plain that in
this mine strike settlement it was "a
question of dividing the losses"
whereas in the settlement in October,
1920, it was "a question Of dividing the
profits"
1t was evident that IL the Govern
ment finally consents to some form OF
subsidy for the mines II will not be
more than an expedicnt to bridge the
gap Of the negotiations. 1t is con-
sidered unlikely that the Government
will make such o promise as would in.
duce the miners actually TO return to
work pending the conclusion OF the
negotiations. although there were
many tendencies toward that end
,,,.nffac2ad ,l,,-;pop tl7n dav
From the miners side there proceeds
the theory that il the Government Is
interested as tho nations coal trustee
IL is obliged TO see mine production con-
tinued.
The Premier also made II plain that
he would not brook unreasonable delay
in the negotiations when he insisted that
Lord Gainford. who headed the mine
owners in the conference. must present
a general case this afternoon. instead OF
waiting until tomorrow.
Pending a study BY the Government
of the two sides OF the dispute II was
decided that no details would be given
out regarding the conference to-day. On
the whole. the prospects for IA settle
ment seem more hopeful. but II Is evil
dent that the conferences Will be pro-
tracleus ne EtpTeNcH-
tatlves to-day were the Prime Minister.
who presided, Sir Robert S. Horne, T. J.
MacNamara. Labor Minister, and WILL
lam Brace. Minister Of Mines.
Labor Alliance Defiant.
Meanwhile the Triple Alliance OF Brit
ish labor made it plain that the danger
OF general strike has been only tenn
porariiy averted. IL issued a statement
tonight violently attacking the Govern
ment, which IL charges with partisanship
in favor of the mine owners. with efforts
to provoke a civil war and with general
Incompetence and unfalrness IN the pres
ent wage dispute. IL announced that the
strike order for midnight tomorrow
stands az issued-namely. that the trans
port workers and the railroad men will
go on strike then II negotiations for a
settlement with the miners are not go
ing on. II reiterated its intent OF firmly
supporting the miners In resisting the
''monstrous proposals. OF the mine own
ers and defending tho standard OF living
OF the whole working class and the vital
trade union policy of national wage
agreements. IL protests In the strongest
language against calling upon the re-
serves and ''the Governments odious
cxpedient OF forming a volunteer force
az an instrument against organized
lahA~ ,rharahr- ifV1af1y