Category: 100 Years Ago

23 APRIL 1923

The Lausanne Conference met again following its dissolution earlier on in the year.

In the presence of Belgian and British representatives, the foundation stone was laid at the Zeebrugge Memorial.

The Norfolk farm strike was settled.

21 APRIL 1923

The Government outlined the cost of the various Budgetary cuts in taxation, with the individual items costing:

Postal Reductions – £1.8 million

Telephone Reductions – £840,000

Reduction of Beer Duty – £13 million

Reduction of Table Water Duty – £160,000

Abolition of Duty on Cider – £90,000

Income Tax Reduction – £19 million

20 APRIL 1923

A provision settlement was reached in the dispute of agricultural workers in Norfolk.

The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill was read a Second Time in the House of Lords.

Sugar prices continued to rise with injunction proceedings undertaken by the US Government with regards to trading in futures.

The value of the German mark collapsed with the cost of living increasing and the number of exports falling. The German Government had ordered the printing of notes to fund the wages of those living in the French occupied Ruhr Valley, a project which the media reported to be unsustainable.

19 APRIL 1923

A debate took place in the House of Lords on the controversial plans to demolish the historic Whitgift Hospital in Croydon to allow for traffic improvements to be made.

The parliamentary Labour party went to visit the French occupied Ruhr Valley in Germany, saying that it was essential that France and Germany submit their requests and demands to an International Tribunal.

Details of the wedding arrangements of Prince Albert and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon were announced, with the event taking place at Westminster Abbey on 26 April 1923.

18 APRIL 1923

The Minister of Agriculture said that the assessment on agricultural land would be reduced, saying it was “the biggest concession to agriculture for a generation”.

Dan Breen, a leading member of the Irregulars, was captured by Irish Free State troops.

Lady Astor’s Intoxicating Liquor Bill to prevent the sale of alcohol to those under 18 passed the Committee stage in the House of Commons.

17 APRIL 1923

At the budget, the Chancellor announced reductions in income tax, corporation tax, beer duty, table water duty, postal rates, telephone rentals and call charges.

The press reported that the health of Andrew Bonar Law, the Prime Minister was failing and that there were efforts being made to find a successor.

The Irish Free State Government said that although the campaign of the Irregulars appeared to be near collapse, they would continue their work to tackle the elements of revolt which were still taking place.

It was announced that the entire Yugoslavia cabinet had resigned.

16 APRIL 1923

Raymond Poincaré, the Prime Minister of France, speaking at Dunkirk said: “The pledges which Germany would not give, and which certain of our Allies with the best will in the world considered useless, we thought indispensable. What we have seen in the Ruhr has shown us that we were not mistaken”.

The press reported emotional scenes at Lochboisdale in Scotland where hundreds of local residents were setting off to start new lives in Canada.

The French Government confirmed that three deserting French soldiers had attacked a sleeping sub-lieutenant on a train after robbing him, then threw his body onto the tracks. The military officer survived the attack and the soldiers were later arrested.

15 APRIL 1923

The press reported that there had been a widespread attack planned by supporters of the Irregulars in Ireland including targets on London police officers, a former Cabinet Minister, Brixton prison, railways, the Old Bailey and railway stations. 150 armed detectives were involved in the arrest of hundreds of Irish and British citizens in London.

A number of brewers agreed to take one penny off the price of a pint of beer following an agreement that was reached between the brewing industry and HM Treasury.

14 APRIL 1923

The French and Belgian Governments issued a joint statement saying that “we are equally resolved to pursue our common action in the Ruhr until Germany decides to make direct proposals for the payment of reparations and will continue for as long as is necessary”.

The Committee, Report and third reading stages of the Army and Air Force Bill were completed following an all-night sitting of the House of Commons.

William Thomas Cosgrave gave the first Irish Free State budget in the Dail, stating that there would be no new taxes and no reductions.

James Henry Thomas, the Labour MP for Derby, criticised the reduction in pay for some railway workers, saying that it was unnecessary given the financial state of the rail network.

13 APRIL 1923

A conference called in a bid to settle the Norfolk farm strikes failed to reach an agreement.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that they were looking at whether there should be a ban on the importation of potatoes.

The press reported that the Government was considering whether or not to close the British Trade Delegation in Moscow.