Evening star., 1926-05-23
BALDWIN REBUKES
MINE D|SPUTANTS
Warns That Subsidy Soon
Will End, Scoring Attitude
of Both Parties.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, May 22.-Through his
secretary. Premier Baldwin has sent
communications of equally stern re-
buke to both the miners and mine
they are adopting. which prevents
the government earnest attempt to
effect a settlement of the coal mining
dispute.
The communications are in answer
to the notice of the miners repre-
sentaiives that the governments
latest proposals could not be accepted,
the men objecting to the clause pro-
viding for reduction of wages and
a lengthening Of the work day. and
the declination of the owners. who
contended that the premier's COM
promise suggestions would limit free
dom Of administration and would not
increase the efficiency Of the industry.
The premier at this stage gives no
intimation of what further steps. If
any, the government intends to
adopt, and it is expected matters will
simmer for the next few days, over
the Whitsuntide holidays. He states
quite clearly. however, that since
both sides have rejected the coal
commissions report the government
no longer considers itself bound by
the commissions recommendations.
Warns Of Subsidy End.
He gives the miners warning that
at the end OF the present month his
own proposals for a settlement. en-
bracing a subsidy of f3,000,000, will
also lapse. But the premier an
nounces that he still holds himself
ready to any new practical proposals
for a settlement from either side.
The letter says that there were rec
concentrations in the coal commits
sion's report that the government
only accepted reluctantly and which
could not have been accepted except
in the hope of general settlement.
This hope" it continues. has
been disappointed. In these circum.
stances it must he clearly understood
that the government regain their
freedom for all purposes and no long
err hold themselves bound by the
terms Of an offer which has been re-
jected.
"In particular, in view of the great
growing burden imposed on the gen.
eral finances, and the present stop
page in the coal industry, it will be
impossible for the government to hold
open beyond the end of the present
month the offer of any further
subsidy"
Denies Terms Discrepancy.
In conclusion. the letter says the
miners are mistaken in supposing
there was any discrepancy in the
terms OF the premier's broadcast
speech in which he asserted the gov
ernment was not. fighting for a lower
standard of living for the miners or
others.
mo such discrepancy exists" It
saws. land, in the opinion Of the
prime minister, the terms proposed,
il accepted on both sides with good
spirit, would by their results have
fully justified those sentences Of his
speech to which you call attention"
The communication to the mine
owners opens with the words: 1.-THE
premier greatly regrets that your as
sociation have thought 1T necessary
to adopt the uncompromising attitude
in your letter."
After admitting that while the at
titude of the miners federation has
not changed since last July. the mine
owners made some advances from
their original position in order to
reach settlement, the letter con-
tinues: THE premier profoundly dis
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