Tag: 100 Years Ago

19 MAY 1926

An official announcement by the three railway Trade Unions states that further trouble has arisen over the failure of the companies to reinstate large numbers of their employees under the terms of settlement.

Further consideration was given by the Executive of the Miners’ Federation to the Prime Minister’s proposals. So that there could be no ambiguity about the terms, and that a clear-cut issue could be placed before the delegates, a further meeting with the Premier was arranged, at which a general discussion in explanation of the Government’s proposal took place.

Mr Frank Hodges, secretary of the Miners’ International, interviewed on the coal situation, said:—“The disaster, for such will be its description for many a long year, arises from the noticeable disposition in recent years to drift away from economic facts.”

Mr Ramsay MacDonald, speaking at Shepherd’s Bush, referred to the general strike, and said that during its meetings he never heard a single member of the Trade Union Congress General Committee whisper an idea, give a piece of advice, or suggest a move or policy that was aimed at a political issue.

The General Council of the Trade Union Congress, urging affiliated Unions and their representatives not to be led into public controversy in relation to the recent strike, states that the Council will take an early opportunity to justify its policy to the authority from which it received its mandate.

Viscount Astor moved in the House of Lords the second reading of the Education (Employment of Children and Young Persons) Bill, which empowers local Education Authorities to make by-laws regulating the employment of children up to the age of 18. Lord Desborough, having given an assurance that the Government meant to deal with this question at the earliest opportunity, and by better and surer methods than that now proposed, Lord Astor withdrew his Bill.

18 MAY 1926

The Chancellor of the Exchequer stated in the House of Commons that the effect of the general strike upon direct taxation would mainly appear in next year’s assessments. He saw no reason at present to propose additional taxation.

The state of the nation’s trade was discussed in the House of Commons on a Board of Trade Vote. Sir Robert Horne gave his views on the question of industrial output and efficiency, and laid weight upon recent testimony to American methods. Replying to criticism of the Safeguarding of Industries policy, the President of the Board of Trade declared that there is not the least likelihood of its reversal by the Government.

The Midwives and Maternity Homes Bill, which has passed the Commons, and which, it was stated, had been taken up as a Government measure, was read a second time in the House of Lords. The Economy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill was read a third time and passed, and the Local Authorities (Emergency Provisions) Bill was read a second time.

In the Finance Bill, the text of which was issued, particulars are given of the machinery for the collection of the betting duties, and of the penalties to be imposed in the case of non-compliance with the regulations.

It is officially stated that, in consequence of the recent emergency, all Territorial Army training camps due to assemble on or before 15th June are cancelled.

Mr Winston Churchill was in negotiation in London with M. Péret on the question of France’s war debt to Britain.

Open water at the North Pole was observed by the Amundsen Expedition.

17 MAY 1926

The return to work following the General Strike continues. A settlement of the dockers’ dispute in London has been reached. Provisional arrangements have been made for the resumption of work in the general printing trade, and an agreement has been framed by London newspaper proprietors and the Unions concerned.

The dockers’ strike has been settled.

The Government’s coal proposals have been considered by a miners’ delegate conference. The Conference was adjourned till Thursday, representatives of the miners are in the meantime to ask the Government to explain certain points in the proposals. The Central Committee of Coalowners is to meet again to-day for further consideration of the Government’s plan. A Cardiff message says that miners are opposed to the proposals.

Raoul Péret, French Finance Minister, arrived in London to discuss with the British Government matters relating to the settlement of the French debt.

Marshal Pilsudski has assumed power in Poland, and a new Government has been formed.

Amundsen’s airship, the Norge, has successfully concluded her trans-Polar flight.

Mohammed VI., ex-Sultan of Turkey, has died in exile at San Remo.

The French National Council of the Miners’ Federation have threatened to promote a general strike unless agreement has been reached before the end of the month on their proposals for higher wages.

Lord Lloyd unveiled at Port Tewfik the memorial to the men of the Indian units of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force who fell during the war.

16 MAY 1926

The Prime Minister’s proposals for settling the coal dispute were reported to have been well received, but miners were still outside the wider industrial peace and coal rationing was expected to continue.

Railway companies hoped services would improve quickly after the end of the strike, although many railwaymen were said to be dissatisfied with the terms agreed between managers and union representatives.

Marshal Józef Piłsudski’s forces were reported to have secured control after fighting in Warsaw, with the country’s president resigning and a new Polish Government being formed.

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.