28 SEPTEMBER 1926
The coal dispute was discussed in the House of Commons, the principal speakers on the Government side being the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
At question time in the House of Commons the President of the Board of Trade stated strong representations had been made to Spain regarding her action in increasing her Customs duties in contradiction of the spirit of the treaty reached with Britain.
In the House of Lords yesterday, the Lord Chancellor (Viscount Cave) said the latest proposal of the Miners’ Federation was impossible of acceptance, because it was founded on a seven hours day. He believed the end of the strike was in sight. What was called an “organised retreat” had begun. The motion continuing the Emergency Regulations was passed.
The miners’ leaders were engaged in a series of consultations to determine the policy and course of action to be taken. It was hoped that the debate in Parliament would produce some plan for ending the deadlock short of complete surrender.
To endeavour to speed up the work of its technical sub-committees, the League of Nations Preparatory Disarmament Commission directed these sub-committees to avoid political complications when studying the question from the naval, military, or aerial standpoints. A United States delegate urged that the problem should be tackled in a practical way without waiting for details of abstract principles.
M. Poincaré, addressing the Council-General of the Meuse, said France had never denied her liabilities to her foreign creditors, and was resolved to meet her debts loyally and in the full measure of her power, and within the limit of the possibilities of transfer.