New-York tribune., 1921-04-07
Last-Minute Call for Con-
ference To-day Slaves
Off Transport Strike,
Voted eff Necessary"
Rail Men Prepare
For Walk-Out Call
5000 Heavily Armed
Troops Camp in London
as Nervousness Grows


Copyright, 1921. New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, April 6.--For several hours
to-day the United Kingdom hung on
the brink of the greatest strike in its
history. Then, when hope had almost
been lost and the railway workers and
transport men were on the point of
walking out in sympathy with the coal
miners, it appeared that some settle
ment might be reached after all
through sudden offer of mediation
which was made by Premier Lloyd
George.
Tonight, however, the situation
seemed almost as chaotic as in the
morning, when it was announced in
the House of Commons that the min
ers had refused to negotiate as long
as Lloyd George insisted that the
safety men, (pumpers) must be REIN
stated at the mines as preliminary
to discussion. New hope Of industrial
peace followed this, however, when it
became known that Lloyd George
had written Frank Hodges, secretary of
the miners union, asking the miners
executive to come to Downing Street
tomorrow morning, when he will re-
peat the request to allow the safety
men to return to work.
misunderstanding on Pumps
John Robert Clynes, Liberal member,
pointed out that when the miners ac-
cepted the governments offer of me-
dlatlon this afternoon they thought the
question of pumping was to be taken
up. at the conference. Although the
Labor members promised their party's
influence to facilitate the parleys, the
deadlock was unbroken when the
House of Commons adjourned after
passing the emergency resolution.
AS the crisis stood tonight, England
was still faced with the threat Of the
railway men and transport workers to
join the miners, bringing the total Of
strikers in these basic industries to
approximately 100000 men.
The Premier's letter offering media
ton. dispatched to the miners execu-
tives and the colliery owners this
morning, transformed what seemed a
hopeless deadlock into a state of flux
in which anything may happen.
Although neither the miners nor the
owners have shown willingness to
concede anything, they hitherto had re-
fused to enter into negotiations, so
their meeting represents distinct ad-
vance from their former position, even
though the transport men are ready to
strike at any minute and the railway
men probably are ready to follow.
Troops Camp in London
To-day for the first time London has
been really disturbed over the outlook.
There has been no panic, but consid-
erable nervousness was apparent. This
morning heavily armed troops camped
in the heart of the city, and last nights
debate in Parliament seemed to offer
request for mediation.
At noon the transport men. in con-
ference, decided to strike if necessary
to back the miners. This meant the
probability of stoppage of busses,
trans, dock work and road transport
and an addition of half million men
to the total already idle.
When the railway men met at 3
O'Clock they informed the miners and
the owners that they accepted Lloyd
Georges offer to negotiate, and at s
o'clock 1T was announced they had de-
cided to postpone action until to-mor-
row. 1nasmuch as it was felt they
were practically certain to follow the
miners and transport workers, the city
was distinctly relieved Their meet
ing later Joined the executives of the
other two unions and became a war
council of the whole triple alliance.
At the close of the conference it was
announced that the three unions were
IN complete agreement Nevertheless,
extra editions Of the newspapers to-
night feature the prospects of peace
(COntfDued 0n naua nJna>