New Britain herald., 1926-05-12

volunteer workers. Measures planned long in advance to cope with any such contingency were put into ef- feet to assure the populations food supply, and distributing centers were organized in all the large cities.
 There were minor disorders in various parts of the country, espe- cially the Clydeside, the radical cen ter of Scotland, and in the dock dis trict of London. Most of these dis turbances, which arose through att tempts 10 stop the operation of the volunteer services. were attributed, however, to disorderly elements rather than to the strikers.
 The termination of the genera, strike is based on negotiations con- ducted 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,
 \. r. Carried News
 The Associated Press was the first to convey the news tq A. J. Cook, the miners chief, as he was leaving the headquarters of his union for lunch. When told the strike was called off, he stood for a moment in silence, and then said he had re- ceived no official intimation from Downing street.
 Frank Hodges, secretary Of tho Miners International federation then drove up. Mir. Cook ran to meet him and immediately told him the news. The two men looked at each other for q brief space and then, with a grim smile and a shrug of his shoulders, Mir. Cook drove off.
 On Verge of Tears
 J. II. Thomas, the railwaymen's secretary who has had so much 10 do with the peace parleys, was on Ithe verge Of tears as he left the conference in Downing street. Some one asked him if he had anything to say. He shook his head, and in tremulous voice said: Nothing v
 On the other hand, Winston Churchill, chancellor of the ex- lchequer, who Is credited with hav- ling had much to do with the gov ernment's conduct of the situation, lappeared with a broad smile, Dramatic Termination.
 The general strike was called off | tt- | zee that marked the country's plunge | last Monday midnight into the first universal trades union upheaval in Great Britain's history,
 Through eight busy and anxious days, the strike had proceeded with no solution of the problem in sight, and with both the government and the trades union congress obdurate in their determination to fight to the finish.
 Peace efforts were being made continually by neutrals but they pro- duced no tangible effects until last night
 In the early hours of this morning it became apparent that there were strong possibilities of peace on the basis of calling off the general strike. l This became more certain to close observers as the morning advanced, with fuil dress meetings at all the ! labor Headquarters.
 Then, shortly after noon, a high labor official informed the Associated | Press that he had reason to believe the strike would be called off today.
 Almost as he was speaking. if sub soquenuy developed, the trades union congress- general council was making it's decision known 10 the 1 cabinet in Downing street.
 Sir Herbert, in a statement, later said:
 "If the Miners Federation con- scnts 10 the basis of the settlement . proposed. the government will, I be- lieye, he fully justified in renewing the subsidy pending negotiations. The miners can restart and the dis cussions that Were interrupted be re- stunned. That is the immediat ob- ioct to be obtained and the matter at this stage rests entirely with the Miners Federation"
 In House of Commons.
 Announcing 10 the house of com mons this afternoon that the general strike had henn called off. Premier i Baldwin said he and his colleagues would make immediate efforts 10 ef- feet resumption of negotiations be- | tween the miners and mine owners with a view 10 securing the earliest ] possible settlement.
 The premier continued; q will ! only add this to what l have to say to the house at this moment-that ! the peace that I believe has come and the victory that has come are the peace and victory Of common ] sense, not of any one part Of the i country but Of common sense on the 1 part of the Wholc United Kingdom; and if is of the utmost importance ! that the British people should not i look backward but forward, l We should resume our work In spirit Of cooperation, putting behind ! us all malice and all vindictivonoss."
 The house. was packed 10 the over flowing when Ramsay Macdonald. . 41... 1.r.l., .l, l., l,,rst,. roea ,I