Evening star., 1926-05-12
Hysterical Joy
Marks Peace
London.
NEITHER GROUP
CLAIMS VICTORY
Baldwin Appeals to
Nation to Leave
Malice Aside.
Ev the Associated Press.

LONDON, May 1.-THE great
British general strike was called off
today.
Leaders of the Trades Union Con-
grcss, which initiated the movement
IN sympathy with the striking min
crs. visited Premier Baldwin and his
cabinet ministers at No. 10 Downing
street at noon and announced that
the strike was over.
This action was taken. Chairman
Arthur Pugh said, in order TO enable
resumption of the negotiations for
settlement of the miners grievances,
which negotiations the government
had declared could not be resumed
while the general strike lasted. The
Trades Union Congress forthwith
dispatched kilograms to this effect
to the affiliated unions throughout
the country.
The individual unions before act
ing. must await definite instructions
from their own executive councils.
However, it is expected the T. I. {.
instructions will have quick effect
and that the wheels of industry.
stil1ed since Monday midnight OF
last week. will begin TO turn again
almost Immediately.
Peace Unconditional.
1t is authoritatively stated that the
termination of the strike was abSo-
lutely unconditional. 1t is understood
~ %Y,1A
the effect upon the miners strike
was mentioned in the 30-minute inter
view between the general council OF
the Trades Union Congress and the
cabinet in Downing street.
Text of Statement. 4
The official statement of the settle
ment issued from the premier'S resi-
dence, on Downing street, reads:
THE prime minister. who was ac-
companied by the minister of labor,
the secretary for India, the secretary
for war, the first lord of the ad-
miralty, the minister of health and
the secretary for mines, received the
members of the General Council OF
the Trades Union Congress at 1920 |
o'clock this afternoon at No. 10
Downing street.
"Mr. Pugh announced on behalf of |
Inc Sen6Tdt NOuHcll VI LIic
Onion Congress that the general |
strike is being terminated today. Mr.. |
Iitrine, secretary of the Trades |
Union Congress, afterward made the |
following statement: In order to re- |
sumo negotiations the General Coun- |
Gil of the Trades Union Congress has
decided to terminate the general
strike today, and kilograms of in |
struction are being sent to the secre-
fnA
The members before acting must |
await definite instructions from their
own executive councils.
1Signed) ARTHUR PUGH,
JOHN BROMLEY,
"'W. CITRINE.'
Almost as soon as the decision was
made known to the cabinet 1t was |
flashed throughout the country by |
radio to the anxious public, which |
had been informed earlier that strong !
peace rumors were i'll the air.
News Greeted Historically.
In the London hotels and restau
rants announcement of the great !
news was received with almost hys- |
1erical cheers and handclapping, and |
u moment later. when an orchestra on |
he radio struck up God Save the |
King" thousands sprang to their feet !
land stood at attention.
The general strike began last May
at midnight, being called to sup
port the miners in their stand against
reduction of pay and lengthening of
working hours.
The number of men who responded
to the strike call was never definitely
fixed, either by the government or
the trades union congress-, but some
authorities placed the figure as high
as 5000, 900, including the 100000
miners.
The first effect of the strike was to
lie UP transportation. and the govern
ment hurriedly recruited volunteer
workers Measures planned long in
advance to cope with any such con
tinGency were put into effect to as
sure the populations food supply, and
distributing centers were organized in
all the large cities.
Minor Disorders Occur.
There were minor disorders in vari-
GUS parts of the country, especially
along the Clyde side, the radical CEN
ter of Scotland, and in the dock dis
1rict of London. Most of these dis
turbances, which arose through at
Tempt to stop the operation of the
volunteer services. were attributed,
however, 10 ulSOTuerly cleiIIeHIS IdtACl
than to the strikers.
The termination of the general
strike is based on negotiations con-
Quoted unoffiCially by Sir Herbert
Samuel, chairman of the Royal Coal
Commission, and Chairman Pugh of
the general council of the Trades
Union Congress, the latter accepting
Sir Herbert's proposals as a basis
for resumption of negotiations.
The Associated Press was the first
to convey the news to A. j. Cook,
the miners chief. as he was leaving
the headquarters of his union for
lunch. When told the strike was call
ed Off he stood for a moment in
silence and then said he had received
no official intimation from Downing
street.
Frank Hodges, secretary of the
Miners International Federation. then
Continued on Page 4. Column 81