Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-04-07
MINERS DEFY
LLOYD GEORGE
Refuse to Order Safety Men
Back at Premier's
Demand
PREMIER ADAMNANT
No Cessation In Preparations BY
G0vernmen; or Unicns-Americans
,Na: Excited

London, April THE, optimism
which prevailed earlier yesterday tfat
the strike Of me miners last night
might be settled as result Of ,ths
conference between the workers yano
the owners which had been announ-
ICED TO take place with Premier
Lloyd George this morning
gave place to, gloom last night, wher
it was announced by the Premier ir
the House CT Commons that The
miners had refused to NEGOTIATE SC
long as the Premier insisted that
'afety men must be ordered back to
the mines as a preliminary to any
discussion.
Since the Premier added that nego-
tiations could not proceed unless this
obstacle is overcome, the country IS
anxiously awi;tjrg the morrow, fear
ful that the dreaded general strike
will be precipit:ted, which will be
the greatest in its history and
which threatens to rock the very
foundations of the Government.
Representatives of the triple ALI
.ance, comprising the miners, railway
men and transport workers, had met
in the afternoon and decided to post
none action until tomorrow. Follow
ing their announcement there was a
distinct feeling Of relief that way
would be found 10 av,' the l''isiss.
THE statement Of the Premier in
!. the House of Comn1ons !astl nignt,
therefore, came like bonbshell to
the public, which had already been
keyed up for several days in antici-
patton of the serious trouble which
impended over the country.
The situation however, is lot
without some ray of hope. Frank
Hodges, secretary Of the miners,
statedalast night that he did not re
gard the question of negotiations IS
hopeless. In addition 70 that the
Premier has written to Hodges ask
ing him to como to Downing street
tomorrow morning, when, it IS ex-
pectea, Lloyd George will repeat the
request that the safety men be per-
mittcd to Seturn to work
Some think that the difficulty about
the pumping men is due to susp:c-
ions entertained BY both sides and
that it is not serious enough to pre-
clude the possibility Of negotiations.
On the other hard there is no cessa-
ton in the preparations which are
being made for any emergency by
the Government or the miners and
the unions affiliated with them.
1t is also believed that, DESPITE
the attitude Of the Government re-
ga.dins a subsidy, thc-r is likely to
b. some temporary relief provided
which will carly tie negotiations
along until the wage question is
thrashcd cut. But all attempts by
the strikers to draw unemployment
benefits have hcen firmly resisted
The darger OF a general strike is
sill very real, however, and the
Evening Standard estimates that II
the coal strike alone continues
month 100000 more workers will be
rendered Idle. During the day the
Governments plans for getting a
complete stoppage Of transport were
rushed to conclusion. Three thou
Sand troops. with steel helmets and
full war equipment have been placed
Il kcnsington Gardens to guard
AGAINST possible disturbances. Lon
don Gardens were closed to the pub
nc and il was indicted Hyde Park
also might ho closed.
Under drastic powers acquired un
der the Emergency act, requisitior
OF means OF transport for food dis
trihutioa was begun il the north OF
England, while - destrovers left
Portsmouth for rorts near the coa
fields. Sailing OF Atlantis liners has
not been affected as yet. They are
receiving plenty Of bunker coal arc
there are no signs of an exodus d
Americans. White Star Line Off
ials said yesterday afternoon tha
their schedule might be seriousl,
disarrapged in the event Of docl
workers strike.
A continuation of rioting is re
ported in Scotland and Wales, Will
the last safety men have been wit