Category: 100 Years Ago

16 JANUARY 1924

The King’s speech at the opening of Parliament stated that proposals to give effect to the conclusions of the recent Imperial Conference would be submitted. Measures for the relief of unemployment, including extension of the trade facilities and export credit schemes and the building of cruisers in anticipation of the naval programme, are indicated. Pension reforms, housing and agriculture were also discussed.

In the House of Lords, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs made a statement on foreign policy, and in a reference to the present political situation described Herbert Asquith’s speech at the National Liberal Club as “appallingly unwise”.

There was no progress made in avoiding the proposed rail strike.

15 JANUARY 1924

The State Opening of Parliament took place.

The rail companies and the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen failed to reach agreement so it was expected that there would be a national rail strike.

Sir Thomas Vansittart Bowater, the former Lord Mayor of London, was recommended for adoption as the Unionist candidate in the City of London by-election.

14 JANUARY 1924

Efforts to avert a railway strike were being made by the General Council of the Trades Union Congress which was meeting today.

Herbert Asquith, in his reply to a resolution from Paisley businessmen, said that he saw no reason to recede from the opinion expressed at his speech at the National Liberal Club.

The British Broadcasting Corporation announced that they planned to establish a station in Edinburgh.

13 JANUARY 1924

It was feared that there would be a railway strike and the trade unions said that it was now inevitable.

The hope of saving any crew from the L24 submarine was abandoned.

FW Goldstone, the present assistant-secretary of the National Union of Teachers was appointed as the General Secretary in place of Sir JH Yoxall, who was retiring at Easter.

12 JANUARY 1924

Negotiations in connection with the threatened railway strike were opened in London between the railway managers and the Executive of the Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen.

The sunk L24 submarine was found, with no survivors being expected.

Eleftherios Venizelos became the Prime Minister of Greece and appointed a Cabinet.

In the Belgian reply to the German Note regarding the administration of the occupied territories, it was pointed out that the success of the negotiations depended largely on the loyal execution of the Treaty of Versailles by Germany.

11 JANUARY 1924

Whilst in manoeuvres off Portland Bill, the British submarine L24 was rammed and sunk, with the feared loss of 43 lives.

The ballot of miners on the question of terminating the national wages agreement began.

A spinning mill collapsed in Bradford with four people being killed and eighteen others being injured.

The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen confirmed their opposition to the National Wages Board award.

10 JANUARY 1924

The swearing in of Members of Parliament continued in both Houses of Parliament. In the House of Lords, during the attendance of the Commons, Mr J Jones, irritated by the procedure, caused a mild scene. Later, in the House of Commons, he complained to the Speaker of Lords’ “contemptuous treatment” of the House below. Mr Whitley undertook to look into the matter on receiving information in the proper way.

The death was announced of Dr Wace, the Dean of Canterbury.

9 JANUARY 1924

John Henry Whitley was re-elected as the Speaker of the House of Commons.

At a Socialist demonstration in London, Ramsay MacDonald described the spirit which would animate the party if called upon to furnish a Government, a responsibility, he declared, which he and his colleagues would by no means shirk.

A new political party, to be known as the Rural Party, was formed.

8 JANUARY 1924

An attempt is reported to have been made on the life of Mustapha Kemal Pasha at Smyrna.

Parliament met for the first time since the December 1923 General Election.

The Liberals confirmed that they would be contesting the by-election in the City of London.

Substantial damage was caused by a fire in warehouses stocked with tea and rubber at the Concordia Wharf in London, with nearly one hundred fire engines taking part in the attempt to put put the fires.

7 JANUARY 1924

The French Senatorial elections have resulted in successes for the Government. Raymond Poincaré, the Prime Minister, said that the Government would pursue their Reparations policy determinedly.

Eleftherios Venizelos has been elected as the President of the Greek National Assembly.

A report of the League of Nations Financial Committee on the scheme for the financial reconstruction of Hungary has been issued. Full acceptance of the scheme is anticipated in the course of the present month.