23 DECEMBER 1923
The threat of a rail strike reduced after a split between the unions on whether or not to accept the proposed offer from the train operators.
Figures released by the Government showed a fall in unemployment of 43,195 over the previous week.
The US State Department said that a complete agreement on the Anglo-American Liquor Treaty would soon be announced.
22 DECEMBER 1923
West Derbyshire by-election resulted in a gain for the Unionist party, Lord Hartington being returned with a majority of 453 over his Liberal opponent.
A summary of the Temperance (Scotland) Act polls shows a large majority for ‘no change’.
David Lloyd George, the former Prime Minister, in an article on his recent tour in Canada, says the ordinary methods of attracting emigrants are worthless, and suggests that a bolder and more enterprising scheme is needed on both sides of the Atlantic.
21 DECEMBER 1923
A report of the National Wages Board on the claims of the railway companies for a revision of the national agreement has been issued. The railway companies are disappointed with the findings, but will, it is regarded as certain, loyally accept them.
Montagu Norman, Sir Josiah Stamp and Reginald McKenna are to be the British members of the Expert Committees of Reparations.
Sir John Gilmour has been appointed Scottish Unionist whip in the vacancy created by the resignation of PJ Ford.
Prince George, who has reached the age of 21 years old, has been made a Knight of the Garter.
Admiral Condouriotis has taken the oath as Regent of Greece.
20 DECEMBER 1923
It was officially announced that the King would open Parliament in person on Tuesday 15 January 1924.
The King and Queen of Greece have left Athens for Romania.
The Prime Minister unveiled a memorial at the Offices of the Board of Trade to the officials of the Board who fell in the Great War, and said that, through all the difficulties of the time, the strength and moderation of character of the British people had shown itself.
19 DECEMBER 1923
Herbert Asquith, outlining the policy of the Liberal party at a meeting of Liberal MPs in London, said that they would preserve their freedom uncompromised, unfettered and in complete and unassailable integrity.
A statement was issued by the Foreign Office regarding the future of Tangier, the Convention regarding the permanent neutrality of which has been signed by representatives of Great Britain, France and Spain.
King George of Greece, as a result of the Republican agitation, has been requested to leave the country until a plebiscite can be taken on the future form of the regime. The King agreed to comply.
18 DECEMBER 1923
Sir John Lorne MacLeod, presiding at the Greenock Highland Society’s gatherings, referred to the distress in the Highlands and Islands, and said that the time seemed more than ripe for an impartial and dispassionate inquiry, by whatever Government was in power, regarding Highlands conditions in all aspects.
A circular has been issued by the directors of the North of Scotland Bank giving the terms of a provisional agreement with the Midland Bank for a fusion of their interests.
In the Greek elections, which passed off quietly, the Liberals have so far secured a large majority over the Republicans.
17 DECEMBER 1923
Raymond Poincaré, the Prime Minister of France, in his reply to the German Chancellor’s invitation to commence discussions, states that France will not consent to any derogation of the rights of the Reparation Commission, or to consider any settlement which would not be in strict accord with the terms of the Treaty.
Lord Reading, the Viceroy of India, expressed at Calcutta his hope that their combined desires for India’s welfare would solve the differences between the Provincial Councils and the Administration.
The National Delegate Conference of the Miners’ Federation have adopted the Executive’s recommendation that a coalfields ballot be taken on the question of terminating or continuing the national wages agreement, and that the men be advised to vote in favour of termination.
16 DECEMBER 1923
Unemployed members of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers decreased by 2,554.
The London County Council has approached Sir Reginald Blomfield to collaborate in the design of the proposed new Lambeth Bridge at a fee of £1,500.
15 DECEMBER 1923
The German Government’s wish to enter into direct negotiations with the Powers occupying the Ruhr territory is welcomed in France as possibly pointing to a solution of the reparations problem.
Herbert Asquith invited the Liberal members of the new House of Commons to meet him at the National Liberal Club.
David Lloyd George, the former Prime Minister, referred to the possibility of a vote of no confidence in the Government when Parliament reassembled. He said that he assumed that it would be led by the Socialists as the second party of the State and he added “any attempt at a shallow cleverness to do Labour out of its chance would provoke a resentment which would astonish its perpetrators”.
14 DECEMBER 1923
At a joint meeting in London of the National Executive of the Labour party and the General Council of the Trade Union Congress, a resolution was passed requesting from the Government an immediate public announcement of their plans for dealing effectively with the problem of unemployment.
The Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Labour party at a meeting in London requested Mr Ramsay MacDonald to convey to the Prime Minister the opinion of the Executive that the disposal of the Government’s shares in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company would be contrary to public policy, and in the present circumstances, improper.
An independent gain was recorded in the University of Wales Parliamentary election.