1 NOVEMBER 1923
It was announced that the funeral of Andrew Bonar Law, the former Prime Minister, would take place at Westminster Abbey.
The Unionist candidates in the by-elections of the Yeovil Division of Somerset and the Rutland and Stamford Division of Lincolnshire were returned with sizeable majorities.
Following a deputation of doctors on the question of panel fees, the Minister of Health has submitted a new offer for a settlement of the doctors’ claims.
31 OCTOBER 1923
The death of former Prime Minister Andrew Bonar Law was announced.
Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister, said that the changes he was making to tackle with the problem of unemployment were essential. He added that the dream of universal free trade was but a dream and could not be dreamed today.
It was rumoured in the German press that the developments in Saxony would likely lead to the fall of the Stresmann Cabinet.
30 OCTOBER 1923
The British Cabinet decided to wait for the views of the United States following the speech made by the French Prime Minister before they took any fresh action on a Conference on Reparations.
It was announced that the health of former Andrew Bonar Law had worsened.
The Mining Association received notice of the new demands of the Executive of the Miners’ Federation in regard to wages and profits in the coal industry.
29 OCTOBER 1923
Raymond Poincaré, the French Prime Minister, expressed his willingness to accept the appointment by the Reparations Commission of a Committee of Experts to examine Germany’s capacity for payment. He declared that France would not agree to a reduction of the German debt fixed in May 1921.
Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister, was elected to the Lord Rectorship of Edinburgh University. The students indulged in their traditional battle for the steps in the old quadrangle.
An outbreak of foot and mouth disease at a piggery near Paisley was announced.
28 OCTOBER 1923
The Government stated that any movement towards Cologne by separatist forces in Germany would be stopped by the British military.
Viscount Curzon was fined 20 shillings at Croydon County Court for failing to have a rear light on his car.
27 OCTOBER 1923
France notified the United States that the country would welcome the presence of an American representative on a Committee of experts to investigate Germany’s capacity to pay, but that such Committee must be appointed by, and be subordinate to, the Reparation Commission.
It was announced that an Expert Committee would be set up by the Imperial Economic Conference to consider the whole question of Empire currency, the main complaint in regard to which relates the matter of bank charges.
Frank B Kellogg, ex-Senator for Minnesota, has been selected as the United State Ambassador to Great Britain.
The position of South of Ireland loyalists, agricultural policy, old age pensions and Trade Union ballots were matters discussed at the concluding session of the unionist party conference in Plymouth.
26 OCTOBER 1923
Stanley Baldwin, speaking in Plymouth, urged acceptance by all the Allies of President Coolidge’s Reparation Conference plan. He declared that he would battle against unemployment as one of the greatest perils of the realm and observed that the only way to fight it was by protecting home markets.
Lord Derby, speaking in Sheffield, said that now was the time for France to show statesmanship and to co-operate with other nations in settling the Reparations problem.
General Smuts, speaking at the League of Nations Union dinner in London, spoke on the prospects of the League in establishing a new world order out of present chaos.
25 OCTOBER 1923
German issued a note to the Reparations Committee requesting that the country’s ability to repay war debts to be reassessed.
The Bavarian Palatinate was declared an autonomous state.
The annual conference of the National Unionist Association opened in Plymouth.
Lord Salvesen, speaking in Falkirk criticised the Temperance Act options and cited the results of Prohibition in other countries.
24 OCTOBER 1923
Fierce fighting took place between Communists and the police in Hamburg. Disorder was also reported from the Rhineland in connection with the Separatist movement.
General Smuts, making a speech in London on the European situation, referred to “this crusade of suicide on which Europe has started”. Condemning the French occupation of the Ruhr, he said “we are back in August 1914. It is again the scrap of paper”. Britain, he declared, should make clear that in certain eventualities it will have regard to its own interests “irrespective of the effect that they may have on old friendships”.
Herbert Asquith, speaking in Liverpool, advocated an impartial international inquiry into Germany’s capacity to pay. He contended that the Dominions as a whole did not desire or ask for further preference. Free Trade had been the sheet anchor of Britain’s prosperity.
23 OCTOBER 1923
Ronald McNeill, the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, speaking at Tiverton said that “there is one debt we are not going to write off – the debt owed to us by Germany. We are not going to let Germany off. Sooner or later she will have to pay up”.
A military revolt broke out in Greece, under the leadership of the Royalist General Ioannis Metaxas.
The media reported that telegrams from the Rhineland reported an extension of the Republican movement.