Tag: 100 Years Ago

15 MAY 1926

The railway strike was ended at a conference between the managers and the representatives of the men, and work will be resumed to-day as far as possible. The Unions admit that the strike was a wrongful act. A settlement was also reached in a number of other industries, the Prime Minister’s advice to both sides to get together having been acted on.

The Prime Minister announced in the House of Commons the progress made in the negotiations for a resumption of work by the principal services involved in the industrial dispute, and made known his decision to step between the parties to the mining dispute with a plan of his own.

Mr Baldwin has submitted to the mine owners and the Miners’ Federation proposals which he considers would lead to a reasonable and fair settlement of the mining problem. He has asked them to consider them carefully over the week-end.

The text is given of the agreement reached between the Scottish Alliance of Master Printers and the Executive Council of the Scottish Typographical Association.

Some anxiety is felt for the safety of Captain Amundsen and his fellow-adventurers in the Polar airship Norge. Wireless touch with them has been lost, and they are said to have encountered bad weather.

14 MAY 1926

A hitch has occurred in the resumption of work after the cessation of the general strike. As a consequence the railway Trade Unions have ordered their men to remain out. The Trade Union Congress General Committee also counsel men not to sign individual agreements. Peace, they say, depends on the employers abstaining from attempts at victimisation.

A debate on the industrial crisis took place in the House of Commons.

The airship Norge, returning from its Polar flight, has, it is reported, been sighted off Alaska. Scraps of wireless messages from the airship have been picked up.

It is reported that Marshal Pilsudski’s troops have occupied Warsaw, and that the Marshal has become President of Poland.

13 MAY 1926

The general strike organised by the Trade Union Congress Council has come to an end. Negotiations between Sir Herbert Samuel and the T.U.C. led to the latter accepting proposals contained in a memorandum prepared by the Chairman of the Coal Commission. These they considered offered a basis on which negotiations upon the conditions in the coal industry could be renewed. They therefore decided to take measures for terminating the general strike.

The King, in a message to his people, appeals for co-operation in the task still lying before the nation.

In the House of Commons Mr Baldwin said the peace was a victory for the commonsense of the people.

The German Cabinet has resigned. A Monarchist plot for the overthrow of the Republic has been discovered by the Berlin police.

A military revolt is reported from Poland, and troops, it is stated, are marching on Warsaw.

The airship Norge has crossed the North Pole.

On the London Stock Exchange news of the termination of the general strike caused much activity among buyers. Prices improved, and the tone of markets was firm.

12 MAY 1926

Sir John Simon made proposals in the House of Commons for a peaceful settlement of the coal dispute.

According to the official announcement on the strike position, the situation throughout the country showed a further improvement.

Instructions were issued by the T.U.C. to the engineering and shipyard Unions to cease work to-day. Men in North and South Shields and at Palmers’s Yard, Jarrow, decided to refuse to comply with the strike notice.

Three hundred Glasgow tramwaymen returned to duty, and this large break-away is looked upon as the forerunner of a complete collapse.

In granting an injunction sought by the National Sailors’ and Firemen’s Union against certain branch officials of the Union, Mr Justice Astbury said the so-called general strike called by the T.U.C. Committee was illegal and contrary to law, and those persons inciting or taking part in it were not protected by the Trade Disputes Act of 1906. Further, no member of the plaintiff Union in this country could lose his Trade Union benefits by refusing to obey unlawful orders, and the orders of the Trade Union Council and the Unions who are acting in obedience thereto in bringing about the so-called general strike were unlawful orders.

The Government’s Economy Bill passed Committee stage with amendments in the House of Lords.

The House of Commons discussed a Vote for the Pensions Ministry.

11 MAY 1926

An official bulletin states that the arrangements for the distribution of milk, food, and petrol supplies were more successful yesterday than on any other day of the strike. It is pointed out that, while there are many individual cases of strikers of various trades and services returning to work, the general strike continues unabated throughout the whole of the country.

The measures taken by the Government for the maintenance of supplies, convoying, &c., were discussed in the House of Commons.

Complaint was made in the House of Commons that the Government had not paid sufficient attention to the peace suggestions of the Churches’ Conference at Lambeth, and that the British Gazette contained no reference to the appeal of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

In reply to Sir H. Slesser, who challenged Sir John Simon’s reading of the law in regard to strikes, the Attorney-General stated in the House of Commons that Sir John Simon had performed a great public service, but he (the Attorney-General) neither affirmed nor disputed that opinion—it was for the Courts to decide. The Courts would restrain by injunction any attempt to expel a member for disobeying an illegal order, or to deprive him of legal benefits. The Government had also given a guarantee that no expulsion or deprivation of benefits would be permitted as a result of refusing to take part in the strike.

A disastrous railway accident took place in Edinburgh, a passenger train dashing into a goods train which was being shunted. Three passengers were killed, and others were injured. The breaking of a gas pipe in the short tunnel in which the collision occurred added to the difficulties of rescue.

North of Newcastle, the “Flying Scotsman” from Edinburgh was derailed with three coaches. Only one passenger was injured. A gang of men are alleged to have removed the fish plates of the line.

10 MAY 1926

The Earl of Balfour, writing in the British Gazette, describes the general strike as an attempted revolution.

Mr Baldwin, in a broadcast message, said he did his utmost to secure agreement upon the basis of the Commission’s Report, and he should continue his efforts to see that in any settlement justice was done both to the miners and to the owners. The Government’s position was that the general strike must be called off absolutely and without reserve. The mining dispute could then be settled.

Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P., speaking at Hammersmith, said that, in spite of all that had been said and of all that would be said, he urged both sides to keep the door open.

A legal correspondent draws attention to the position of power, gas, and water workers under the Conspiracy Law, pointing out the criminal responsibility they incur in cases where desertion from their employment endangers the public security.

Lt.-Cdr. Byrd, the U.S. airman, started on his North Polar flight. After fifteen and a half hours’ absence he regained King’s Bay, and stated that he had reached the Pole.

In a collision with Royalists on the occasion of the Jeanne d’Arc fête in Paris 118 policemen were injured. Two of them had to be taken to hospital. Of 221 demonstrators arrested 31 were detained in custody.

9 MAY 1926

More railmen went to work as more transport ran during the General Strike.

The Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin said that he would not enter into negotiations with trade unions until the General Strike was called off.

Dockers in Hull refused to unload trawlers but it was hoped that volunteers would help distribute food under police, military and naval protection.

It was announced that in London a Civil Constabulary Force was to be established.

8 MAY 1926

There was no important change in the general strike situation.

An official announcement states that no serious disorder occurred across the Border. The work of feeding the people and of maintaining light and power and essential communications is being successfully accomplished.

In an article in the British Gazette, Lord Oxford says the real victims of the general strike are the common people.

An order has been issued by Sheriff Croft, on the recommendation of the Magistrates, ordering all Edinburgh public-houses to close to-day at 3 p.m.

7 MAY 1926

An official statement says that throughout the entire country the vital services of food, milk, light, and power are being successfully maintained by the Government, and every obstacle is being progressively surmounted.

In the official strike bulletin the General Council of the Trade Union Congress states that, while it is ready at any moment to resume negotiations for an honourable settlement, it gives an unqualified “No” to the Premier’s request for an unconditional withdrawal of the strike notices.

Edinburgh experienced some lively scenes in the evening, baton charges being repeatedly made by the police in the High Street in order to disperse the large crowds, which were becoming noisy and menacing.

Mr Saklatvala, the Communist M.P. for North Battersea, refused to be bound over to keep the peace for twelve months, and elected to go to prison for two months.

Lord Banbury’s motion for the second reading of the Trade Disputes Act, 1906 (Repeal), Bill in the House of Lords was, at the suggestion of the Government spokesman, Lord Salisbury, postponed.

The Public Health (Smoke Abatement) Bill was read a third time in the House of Lords.

In the course of a debate in the Commons, which was mainly occupied with the passage of the Emergency Powers regulations, Sir John Simon declared that the decision of the Trade Union Congress to call out everybody regardless of contracts was not lawful. Every man who came out without notice had broken his contract of employment. Every leader and striker was liable in damages.

6 MAY 1926

The Prime Minister, in a message in the British Gazette, asks all good citizens to stand behind the Government, who are doing their part confident that they will co-operate in the measures taken to preserve the liberties and privileges of the people of these islands.

In the House of Lords the Secretary for India, in supporting the continuance of the regulations under the Emergency Powers Act, said that whatever the lengths to which the present quarrel might be carried, it would be ended only with the recognition of the fact that there was one Government and one Government only in this country.

The Government’s new Emergency Regulations were explained in Parliament by the Home Secretary and afterwards debated.

In the House of Commons, Mr McNeill, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, replying to Lieutenant-Commander Kenworthy, said that there was no proposal to close the Stock Exchange during the present emergency.

In the view of the Government, the railway services are improving in a gratifying manner, and a pleasing feature of the situation is the fortitude and good temper shown by the bulk of the population.

The first prosecution at Manchester under the Emergency Regulations, 1926, was that of William Richard Stoker (40), a director of a Manchester company, who was sent to prison for two months in the second division for attempting to do an act calculated to cause disaffection amongst His Majesty’s forces. Stoker’s car, the police stated, was ready to take seditious literature to Glasgow.

Polling took place in the Buckrose (East Yorkshire) Division. The candidates are Major Braithwaite (Unionist), Sir Harry Verney (Liberal), and Mr H. C. Laycock (Socialist). The result is to be declared to-day.

The Polar airship Norge left Trotsky (Gatchina), near Leningrad, for Spitzbergen.