Evening star., 1924-03-27
BRITAIN MAY TAKE
CONTROL IN STRIKE
National Emergency" Proc.
Iamation Seen as Trans
portation Troubles Grow.
Py the Associated Press.

Hy the Associated Press.
LONDON March 27.-So seriously
does the government regard the SIT
nation created by the continuance OF
he tram and bus strike and the ap-
parentIy inevitable entry of the sub
waymen into the fight tomorrow
night, according to several news
,apers, that q .privy council has been
,.alled today to consider proclaiminS
a condition of national emergency.
Some papers say that issuance of
the proclamation already has been de-
,.ided upon, and that the meeting mas
been summoned in order that the
kings formal consent may be given.
The king has gone TO Knowsley for
the grand national steeplechase to-
morrow, and it is stated that the
privy council will meet there.
II state of emergency is pro-
claimed it will be under the pro-
visions of the emergency powers act
Of 1920, which when invoked, conferS
upon the government virtually the
-ame powers as the notorious war
time defense of the realm act.
Means Government Control.
1t enables the. government, subject
To the approval of parliament, to
make wide and compulsory provisions
for the safety and life of the COM
munity, including taking over con-
troll of any public service, using
army and navy lorries therefor, and
communicating private vehicles and
materials for the same purpose. The
act was last put into operation dur
ing the miners strike of 1920.
Such a step would bring the present
labor government into conflict with a
large section of their support erS,
whose opposition to the act is well
known.
The house of commons tomorrow
debates the second reading of the
london traffic bill. which promises TO
furnish serious nags for the gov
ernment and seems quite unlik ely to
receive rapid passage. Many labor
ties and most liberals oppose the
have to depend on the conservatives
10 push it through. Even the latter
are uncertain as regards some pro-
visions of the bill
Would Cripple Service.
1t is assumed that if the subway
men strike their action will not be
unanimous, as a number do not belong
TO the transport union, but in any
case there are enough transport
union members to cripple the services
badly if they walk out. 1t is stated
that in this event an effort will
be made to run the trains with
civilian aid, as was done with con-
siderable success in 1920.
The reported threat of the electrical
trades unions to join the strike and
cut off LOndon's entire electric light
and power supply is unconfirmed. and
IS regarded in some quarters un-
likely.
Meanwhile the public, and the bulk
Of the press, is getting wrathy
against the strikers, declaring their
action is tyrannical and directed not
against the employers, but against
the people. This anger will certainly
be accentuated if the tubes and other
underground systems are stopped, as
this will force hundreds of thousands
Vf LondonerS to walk many miles be-
rween their homes and places of busi-
ness
Considerable political feeling also
has been injected into the contro-
versy, and rumors abound looking TO
such political action as would cause
the overthrow of the government,
which already is subject to strong
criticism.