New-York tribune., 1921-05-29
End Strike or
Face Jail, Says
Lloyd George
Premier Threatens to Force
Arbitration in the Coal
Crisis i'm an Ultimatum
to Labor and Owners
Bombshell to Workers
Men Indicate They Will Re-
ject Governments Plan
for Gradual Pay Cut
From The Tr;burc's Europenn Bu,co,,

Copyright, 1921. New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, May 28.-Premier Lloyd
! George threw bombshell into the coal
strike negotiations to-day, when he an
nounced to the leaders of the idle
miners that if they and the owners
couldn't get together and effect a
speedy agreement the government was
prepared to force a settlement. He
said that the dispute must be ended,
and if the parties to the controversy
did not act the government would in
| troduce legislation in the House Of
Commons that would compel them to
resort to arbitration.
Herbert Smith president of the
Miners Federation, inquired whether
the Premier realized that such meas
ures might mean an attempt to send a
| million miners to jail. Lloyd George
replied that it would mean the impris-
onment of the mine owners, too, if they
stood in the way of a settlement.
The Premier'5 threat was his last
card played when the conferences that
we're continued today gave evidence
that no progress toward a settlement
! was being made.
Miners Unlikely to Yield
The miners are expected to call .
national conference of delegates next
week to consider the governments at
titude, but their leaders indicated to-
day their belief that the difficulties in
the way of the Premier's threatened
move are too great to force any imme-
diate shift in the miners program Of
demands
LONDON, May % (By The Asso-
ciated Press Lloyd George presented
proposals to both miners and owners
for a temporary arrangement leading
to q permanent scheme
The temporary proposals call for a
gradual scaling down of wages until
they reach an economic level which the
industry is capable of sustaining, based
on the grant of 100000 from the
Exchequer and surrender by the own
ers Of the standard profits for
three months in the districts in which
governmental assistance is required.
| The government grant, however, will
not be given until arrangements for
continuing Lne agreement nave CSSn
arrived at between the contending par
ties.
With regard to permanent scheme
it is pointed out that if the parties are
unable to agree on terms for a con-
tinuous period the matter must be de-
cided by one Of three methods:
1. A national wages board, to be COM
posed of an equal number of owners
and miners, shall be established under
a neutral chairman.
Would Have Tribunal
.. A tribunal of three persons shall
be established to decide the matters at
issue.
8. The questions in dispute shall be
referred to a single arbitration decision
| of body of persons selected and shall
be binding on both parties for year
thereafter, subject to three months
notice by either side.
The determining body shall decide the
wages to be paid at the end of the
! temporary period, based on the capac-
ity of the industry in each district to
pay, provision for subsistence wage
to the lowest paid worker, possibilities
Of increasing the output, the amount
of the minimum standard wage in each
district and the proportion of profits
to wages in the distribution of the pro-
ceeds of the industry. The determin-
ing, body would be required to report
wit h in two months