Emergency Press > Emergency Press

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-46
-...- _-� - �='.�` ._
COMBINING THE ISSUES OF
SS
"
"°. SGOW
--
HERALD ...G
N.
LASGOW EVENING
NEW
H
E DAILY RECORD THE EVENING TIMES
T­-HE BULLET1N
,
THEE CITIZEN
MON D.A►Y
9
t_
MAY 1D, 1926
THE .
,-
PEACEMA
K
S
Ihf Discussions
Proce*
*�
iing
SPOR�IC RIOTING IN GLASGOW
�Fomd SutpheS by C
onvoy
i
•1:
Although no approach has been made to the Government witti a view to
a j�ttlement of the crisis, our London uorrespondent' states that there have
various discussions, unofficial and informal,
-
which, so far as they have
'gouo, have not been discouraging.
{ It is signiircant that
Sir
Herbert Samuel, Chairman of the Coal Commis-
gifln,
hart returned to London. The peace-makers, it is stated, have formu-
;�&ted a scheme which, whenever the general strike is called off, will enable
{} resumed negotiations .,.to proceed without a hitch.
Mr Baldwin,in
a
message broadcast on Saturday night, said a solution
,
Wa
s within the
grasp
of the
;
nation the, moment the trade union leaders were
willing to abandon the general strike. He was a man of peace, but he would
not surrender the safety and security of he British Constitution.
The Government communiques for the week=end state that the work of
carrying on the feeding and vital services of . the population is getting better
every.
day.
Owing to obstruction and intimidation by pickets an ever-extending convoy
system
is
being adopted to secure the movement of food supplies, . The
obstruction
is wea
kening and being more effectually overcome,
London Docks were reopened during the week-end and flour removed and
distributed safely and easily by means
of great
convoys of lorries guarded by
armoured cars, cavalry, and mounted police..
There is no marked shortage of food In any part of the country, and steps
;are being taken to control the inevitable rise in prices.
Railway services improved during the week-end.: The companie3 report
that strikers are returning to work.
Hints of an early extension of the strike wei e thrown out by
,
Mr Cramp
tnd 11rIr A. B. Swales in speeches during the week-end`.
There were
spor
adic outbreaks of disorder in the Southern, Western, and
-Maryhill districts or Glasgow on 'Saturday night, and over 80 arrests were
Made..
The disturbances took the form of window smashing and looting of shops,
Pad were quelled by the police, who made baton charges where necessary,
OFFICIAL
NEWS.
oo•
steps t® Control Rise of
Krises,
SATISFACTORY _
RE
P
OR
TS
15
e
following official communiques for
Murday and Sunday appear in
.
to-day's
.
flaus of " The British Gazette
kay8.--Reports received from all parts of
Great Britain on the fifth morning of the
general strike are satisfactory. All the Civil
,C4ixirnissioners report improvement in their
area$. Throughout the length and breadth
-
of the British Islands there has been no
serious
disorder. There has been no blood-
`shed, wounding, injury to property, or loot,
Iug worth speaking of at such a grave crisis.
uiPre has been no collision between the
troops and the strikers. Not a shot has been
-t1`ed
and
no large military movements
have' taken place.
The work . of carrying on the feeding and.
vital services of the population is, going
better each day. Nearly 3000
-
trains ran
Yesterday, in addition to the London and
suburban services. Further improvement is
expected to-day. The, underground railways
are now giving a regular and ample service.
The
number of London buses running was
approximately doubled again yesterday with-
out any molestation. The production of
l
-
i
p
ht and power throughout London is now
44nbst entirely in the hands of en impro-
vieed organisation, and is thoroughly effi-
cient.
Nevertheless,* there are many instances of
obstruction and intimidation by pickets,
and
it has been found necessary to organise
ever-extending convoy system to secure
,
'tho nwvement .of food supplies. These are
P'w coming through freely in nearly every
„case,
aaa.d all exceptions reported are being
gealt with.
i•
r, PORT OF LONDON OPENED.
i Since the beginning of the general strike
n4 attempt has been made by the. authorities
a reopen, the fort of `London for the de-
4
dery of supplies.
As
it becomes necessary to replenish the
t radon area with, flour in order that its
b
t of
+
sum lent area
,
rp
ulation
und th
not
e do
cks
r
was
i _ -'.-
Pd under military protection last night.
Large convoys of lorries were assembled
loaded, and are now being safely and easily
distributed. The free working of the Port
of London by volunteers under full protec-
tion will be arranged forthwith.
Speaking generally,. no marked shortage
of any of the necessaries of life is reported
from any part of the country, and active
steps are being taken to control the. inevit-
able rise of prices during .such a disturb-
ance.
Recruiting of special constables is proceed-
ing in all parts of the country, particularly
in London. The civil force at the, disposal
of the aauthorities grows stronger every
hour. Volunteers for all forms of labour
whose services have not yet been called
upon should remember that it is necessary
to keep large reserves in hand for emergen-
cies. They also serve who only stand and
wait."
The progressive improvement in news-
paper services continues. " The British
Gazette " printed 836,000 copies. last night,
which have been delivered by aeroplane and
Motor cars throughout the whole of Eng-
land.
These tranquil and improving appear-
ances, and the evident power of the Govern-
ment to carry on the life of - the
a people,
must not, however, lead anyone to forget
the increasing arrest of all business and
production, and the growing hardships and
impoverishment to which the mass of the
people are being subjected.
DISORDER CURBED,
May 9.—The general situation is un-
changed. On the whole, throughout Eng-
land the attempted obstruction by pickets to
the movement of necessary supplies has
weakened, and is being more effectually
overcome.
There has been a recrudescence,' of rioting
at Hull, and a somewhat considerable riot
occurred last night at Middlesbrough. In
both cases the disorder was suppressed and
numerous arrests were made.
Attempts
to interrupt the convoys on the
London Thames Haven road were marked
by stone throwing and . bottle 'throwing.
Strong ' reinforcements were available, and
this route will be brought under strict con-
trol,
b Complete confidence and order are main-
tained throughout the London dock area.
Convoys are moving freely in and out of the
docks. The work of loiading and unloading
vessels by volunteer labour is Piloceeding
and
ancleaei continualV'
A
- 1
T'A'O
ISSUES.
Mr Baldwin
'
s Broadcast
Message.
WHY THE GOVERNMENT
-
T IS FIGHTING.
The following message to the Nation was
broadcast by the Prime Minister on Satur-
day night:—
The general strike has now been in pro-
gress for neiarly a week, and I think it is
only right that, as Prime Minister, I should
tell the nation once more what is at stake
is the lamentable struggle which is going
There are two distinct issues the stop-
page of the coal
.
'industry and the general
strike. The stoppage in the coal industry has
followed after nine months of inquiry and
negotiation. I did my utmost .to secure
agreement upon the basis of the Commis-
sion's Report; and when the time comes, as
I hope it soon may, to discuss the . terms
upon which the industry is to be carried on,
I shall _ continue my efforts to see
that
in
any settlement justice is done to both the
miners and the coalowners.
ATTACK UPON THE COMMUNITY.
" What, then, ie the issue for which the
Government is fighting l It is. fighting be-
cause "whi:le negotiations were still in pro-
gress the-T.U.C, ordered a general strike.
Presumably their object was to force.Parlia
ment and the community to bend to their
will. With that object the T.U.C. has de
creed that the railways shall not run, that
transport shall not move, and that the un-
loading of food .ships shall stop, and that no
news shall reach the public. The supply of
electricity and the transportation of the food
supply
-
of the people have been interrupted,
The T.U.C.. declares that this is merely an
industrial dispute, that they are trying to
help the miners and not to attack the com-
'munity, . Could there be a more direct
attack upon the community than that a body
not - 'elected by the voters of the country,
without consulting the people, without con-
suiting even the trade .'unionists, and in
order to . impose conditions never yet de=
fined, should dislocate the
li
fe of the
country? Who is attacking the standard of
living of the people? Is it the Government,
who have only sought to bring about a
reasonable - settlement of the mining in-
dustry, or the T.U.C., which has decreed a
strike which, if it is continued, cannot fail-
to increase unemployment, add to the bur-
den of the rates and taxes, and tend'to ruin
the whole standard of life of the people?
I wish to make it as clear as I can that
the Government is not fighting to lower the
standard of living of the miners or of any
other section of the workei:b. That sugges-
tion is being spread about. It is not true.
[ don't believe that any honest person can
doubt that rnv sole desire is to maintain the
standard of living of every worker, and
-
I
am ready to ' press the employers to make
any sacrifice consistent with maintaining
the industry itself in order to bring about
that object.
ACCEPTANCE OF COAL REPORT.
There are many people who -ay, 'I don't
hold with a general strike, but I feel a good
deal of sympathy with the ruiners.' So do I.
But when Parliament has voted .223,000,000
for the support of the mining industry, and
has received the report of an exceptionally
able Commission, what else can be done
than to try and bring about a settlement
on the basis of what that Commission de-
clares are the only conditions upon which
the industry can be kept in existence? I
want to repeat now that the Government is
prepared now, as it has always been, to
accept the Report, and the full_ Report, if
the other parties will do so. I have said,
and I repeat it, that the Government are
ready • to take whatever steps are practicable
tr_ carry out the reorgani: ation proposals in
the Report. The, Government remains con-
vinced that these steps are an essential
factor in keeping the industry on an eew -
omic basis, so that the country may be
preserved from a repetition of the series s
disputes in the industry. • Wec are prepared
as soon as circumstances permit to consult
the owners and the miners to see how effect
can best be 'given to this policy; and the
country may rest assured that when the time
comes the Government will be ready with
proposals.
WHEN GOVERNMENT WILL
NEGOTIATE.
"
We' are being asked why the Government
takes up.the position that they will not nego-
tiate, The answer to this question was given
irr a statement in the House of Commons on
Monday last. The T.U.C. has only to can-
cel the general strike and to kvitudraw
the challenge they . have issued, and
we shall immediately begin again with the
utmost care and patience the long and
laborious task' which has been pursued for
so many weeks of endeavouring to rebuild
the coal industry on an economic founda-
tion. That is our position, and while civili-
sation remains what it is we have no
alternative whatever but to go forward un-
flinchingly and do our duty.
" Meanwhile, notwithstanding the disloca-
tion of transport and fuel supplies. I hope
(Continued at Foot of Next Column.)
ONE PENNY
LORD BALFOUR•
Objects of the Strike,
ATTEMPTED DEVOLUTION.
The following message from Lord Balfour
appears in to-day's issue of the "British
Gazette" :—
.4
Two hundred and thirty-eight years have
passed since a revolution occurred in this
country, whose object was to secure the
supremacy of Parliamentary Government
-
and the traditional liberties of our people.
Throughout eight generations it has proved
successful. But we are now threatened,
it seems, with a
,
revolution of a very
different kind, and it behoves us seriously
to consider what are its practical methods,
what are its avowed objects, what would be
its actual results were it un�appily to
succeed. Its methods are being practised
before our eyes. They are to deprive the
people of food, transport, employment, and
a free press. _ The conveniences of civilised
life, which have long been counted among
its necessities, .are in some cases to be
immensely diminished,. in others to be
brought to an end. Personal
:
security is
to be threatened, industry is to be
seriously hampered even when it is not
wholly stopped, willing workers
-
are to. be
kept in idleness, anxious purchasers are to
-be kept in want, perishable food is to rot
in part all the.wheels of social life are to be.
clogged. Such are the rnethods of the
revolutionary movement. `ghat
;
then, are
its objects?
WHAT BENEFIT TO MINERS?
The nominal object is to maintain un-
changed the existing condition of ruiners'
remuneration as regards hours of work and
rates. of pay.. Now, there i
s
no man who
:does not, heartily share th_s desore, but
neither is there 'any man who has
-
read the
Coal Mines Report who thinks it can be
satisfied under existing conditions: Wert.
the revolution to succeed to-morrow the
country would suffer, but the miner would
'not gain. No revolution in Britain. how-
ever triumphant, is going , to diminish
foreign competition in neutral markets.
No revolution is going to i ginent the de-
mand for coal at home. No revolution is
going to hasten the changes recommended
by the Commission in the method
s
and
organisation of the mining industry. No
revolution is going to compel a mineowner
indefinitely to carry on his `industry a
loss. Revolutionary method9 would be com-
pletely powerless except for evil. On the
other. hand, their power for evil is beyond
calculation. All strikes and all lock-outs
are: costly, both to employers and employed.
But neither in fact, nor, I believe, i.i law,
is the course advocated by the- trade unions
a strike in the proper sense of the term. It
is what I have called it—an attempted re-
volution. Were it to succeed, the com--
nI unity would thenceforth be ruled, not by
Parliament, not by, the Parliamentary
Labour ._Party, not by the rank and file of
the trade unions, not by the moderate
members of the Trades Union Council, l ut
byy a relatively small body of extremists,
who regard trade unions not as the
machinery for collective bargaining within
our industrial system, but as a political
instrument by which the industrial system
itself may lie utterly destroyed.
THE EFFECTS OF REVOLUTION.
Such a policy would in the long run be
fatal to any country. On this country it
would bring ruin—•swift, complete, and
irresistible. We live on industry, and in
dustry live on credit and enterprise. What
credit, financial or political, what enter-
prise would reniain to us were we driven by
methods such as those I have described to
disposses the people of their Parlia-
mentary liberties, and to . hand over our
national heritage to be squandered .nd to
bring incalculable suffering by violent ,
irresponsible doctrines I N rom such a
fate may the courage and resolution of our
countrymen save the civilisation of which
they are the trustees.
(Continued from Previous Column.)
employers will do all in their power to keep
their works running in order to mitigate the
hardships which must necessarily fall upon
the people in an emergency such as this.
That is . the Government's position. The
general strike must be called off absolutely
and without reserve.. The mining dispute
can then_ be settled. That is a fair arrange-_
ment, and surely- it would be a thousand
times better to accept it than to continue
a struggle which can only cause increased
inisery and disaster the longer it lasts..
A SQUARE DEAL FOR EACH PARTY.
"A solution is within the grasp of the
nation the moment . the trade union leaders
are willing to abandon the general strike.
I am a man of peace. I am - living
and working and praying for peace,
but I will, not surrender the safety
and security of the British Constitu-
tion. You placed me in power eighteen
months ago by the largest majority accorded
-any party for many, many years. Have I
done anything to forfeit that confidence?
Can you not trust me to ensure a square
deal for each party and to secure even
justiice between man. and ,man Z " x x_
INDUSTRIAL CRISIS
NOTICE TO CITIZENS
In the present emergency we
earnestly_ recommend that law-
abiding citizens should refrain
from
congregating in the streets,
and should avoid the main
thoroughfares as much as
possible. This would not only
conduce to their oven safety, but
would materlaliya2sist the Police
in the exercise of their duty.
M. W. MONTGOMERY,
Lord Provost
A. O. M. MACKENZIE.
Sheriff of Larar
k
shire.
Glasgow. 7th May, 1926.
VISCOUNT ORE'S
t
'APPEAL.
Withdraw the Strike a nd­
,
s
Negotiate.
Speaking from the London studi
o
o
f th
e
.:.
British Broadcasting Company last night,,°i;`
Viscount Grey of Fallodon said.—" Last
night there was broadcast a statement from
the -Prune Minister on .behalf of the Govern-'
went. What. I have to say represents the
personal view of some one who'had no part
:
<
in the coal negotiations, and who sees the
situation from outside. I speak as a memo
ber of the public who is gravely impressed �,"
with the peril in thr, country, and wishes is
seethe country rescued from that peril; ≤,
There is widespread sympathy with those
who are suffering in the mining districts.
There is a general readiness to support .a
settlement on the lines of the Report of the:?
Coal Commission. - Many peopl
e
w
ou
ld
go
further than 'that, and would advocate
further assistance from the State'to mitigate..
the hardships that may result temporarilyd
under the Report. It is understood that the
Trades Union - Council itself favours a,j
settlement on the lines of the Repo
r
t
o
f_the r
Coal Commission as a whole, but the threat 't:
,
of a general strike was an ultimatum with e1
time limit. -
" The operation of the strike is assailing
the life of . the nation. It has placed the
country with the alternative to submit to
dictation or be ruined, and starved—starva- i
tion and ruin in which the strikers them-
selves will be involved.
DICTATORSHIP BY MINORITY,
"It seems to me, therefore, that at the
moment everyone who can must do what he can to help the Government to pull the..,
country through. Negotiations about;:
miners' wages must be free and not under .
duress. They cannot be free under strikes
conditions. At a meeting of the Trades
Union Council last year one of the speakers
said that they must snake, the Trades l.Tnion
Council the real Parliament of the country.' :
That means the overthrow oI the House of ;
Commons `and the destruction of elected
Parliaientary government. It would mean
a dictatorship by a minority `to the rest of
the country. That is something which the
British people will resist, and resist as
strenuously as they always have resisted
any attack upon their freedom."
FORCES OF DISORDER.
"The strike, remember, has let loose forces
.
of disorder which are no part of the trade
unionism of this country—hooligan forces
which the trade union -eaders themselves
in ordinary times would disown.
"These forces must be quellea, order
must be preserved, constitutional
-
methods
be re-established. Either the strike is
revolutionary or it is not. If it is revolution-
ary, there is nothing for it but to resist
to the end with all the flower of the com.
munitv.. If it is not a revolutionary strike;
if its sole object is to ,get the best terms
for the 'miners, then there is no reason for
the strike. There are owo qualities deeply
rooted in the British people: _ One is
a . sense of fairness, and the other
is a sense of freedom. The strike
with its threat to the life of the com-
munity is a challenge to the sense of
..
".
freedom, freedom, and divides us. The ren6wal of =.
negotiations would appeal to the sense oV
fairness in all of us which would unite us. ,
That is why it seems co me wise counselk r
to urge, a counsel which
-
ought to appear
to, the nation as a whole, withdraw the
4 strike and get b
.
44
.
49
.
nego
l
t 4tio .g.'