Tag: 100 Years Ago

28 JUNE 1924

Speaking at a luncheon given by the Manchester Branch of the Federation of British Industries, David Lloyd George said he welcomed the announcement that there was to be a Governmental inquiry into the condition of trade. He discussed the prospects of British trade, and expressed his confidence in the British manufacturer and workmen.

A deputation of the National Federation of Building Operatives informed the Minister of Labour that they declined to meet the employers until the lock-out notices had been withdrawn.

It is stated in a Berlin telegram that the German Government will accept unconditionally the terms of the Allied Note regarding military control.

Saad Zaghloul Pasha, the Egyptian Premier, has expressed great disappointment with the British Government’s declaration regarding the Sudan.

The Portuguese Cabinet has resigned.

27 JUNE 1924

Ramsay MacDonald, the Prime Minister, denied in the House of Commons certain newspaper reports which represented that at the recent Chequers meeting with M. Herriot assurance had been given that in the event of France being attacked by Germany, Britain would again be on the side of France and Belgium. Some of the statement, he said, were particularly mischievous.

In a statement in the House of Commons on the question of an Irish Minister-Plenipotentiary at Washington, the Secretary for the Colonies said the demand of people in both countries for a Republic for Ireland would receive the same reply from the present British Government as the latter believed it would have received from either of the two Governments which had been in office since the signing of the Treaty.

A discussion of recent disputes, with particular reference to the strike on the London Underground Railways, took place in the House of Commons on a Vote for the Ministry of Labour. The Government declined to order an inquiry into the causes, and though expressing disapproval of unauthorised stoppages, held that their powers for dealing with such situations are sufficient.

26 JUNE 1924

What the Marquis Curzon described as an “unequivocal, uncompromising and thoroughly satisfactory statement” was made in the House of Lords by Lord Parmoor, who in reply to questions declared that the Government were not going to abandon the Sudan, regarding their obligations towards the Sudanese as of such a character that they could not be abandoned without serious loss of prestige.

The Government’s scheme to meet the thrift disqualification grievance of old age pensioners was explained in the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the appropriate financial resolution.

Developments took place in the building trade dispute. The operatives decided to accept the employers’ challenge, and to allow the lock-out decision to take its course. The employers, on the other hand, agreed, on the suggestion of the Minister of Labour, again to meet the operatives.

25 JUNE 1924

The British Ambassador and the French Charge d’Affaires presented to the German Chancellor a personal message from the British and French Prime Ministers regarding “most disquieting reports” of the increasing activities of the Nationalist and Militarist Associations. It is obviously to the interest of the German Government, states the message, that the real facts regarding Germany’s disarmament should be thoroughly established.

Great enthusiasm marked the opening proceedings of the US Democratic Convention in New York, at which candidates were nominated for the Presidency and the Vice Presidency of the United States.

Ramsay MacDonald, the Prime Minister, visited Glasgow, and was presented with the Freedom of the City, an honour which he shared with Sir Donald MacAlister, the Principal of the University.

There was a hand to hand fight between Deputies in the German Reichstag.

Benito Mussolini, in a speech in the Senate, referred to the Matteotti affair. The National Militia are to be demobilised at once.

24 JUNE 1924

According to a Paris telegram, the British and French Premiers decided to send a firm note to Germany with regard to Inter-Allied military control.

The Prime Minister answered questions in Parliament relating to the interview with the French Premier on the subject of the Experts’ Report, and said the talk was preliminary to the Inter-Allied Conference, which meets in London next month.

The Prime Minister made a further statement in the House of Commons with regard to the friction with Mexico, and said there was now no questions of the Mexican Authorities entering the British Legation House.

The Opposition amendment for the rejection of the Housing Bill was defeated by 269 to 206 in the House of Commons. Mr Masterman than moved the committal of the Bill to a Committee of the whole House, the motion being carried against the Government by 315 votes to 175.

The King, in a message expressing his distress on hearing of the Everest disaster, said that the two gallant explorers, Mallory and Irvine, will be remembered as fine examples of mountaineers ready to risk their lives for their companions and to face dangers on behalf of science and discovery.

23 JUNE 1924

Ramsay MacDonald, the Prime Minister, and Édouard Herriot, the French Prime Minister, conferred at Chequers on the questions arising out of the Experts’ Report on Reparations.

Raymond Poincaré, the former Prime Minister of France, spoke at Verdun in justification of his Ruhr policy.

The French authorities made a number of arrests of Nationalists in the Ruhr.

The King and Queen welcomed the King and Queen of Denmark at Liverpool Street in London on their arrival in Britain on a short visit.

The Speaker of the House of Commons, speaking at the commemoration of the Signing of Magna Carta at Runnymede, said that it was not from monarchy that the challenge to liberty came nowadays from dictatorships.

22 JUNE 1924

It was confirmed that the nomination day for the Lewes by-election would be 30 June and the election itself would be on 9 July.

Grand Duke Michael of Russia attended the concluding performance of the Aldershot Military Tattoo with the King and Queen.

21 JUNE 1924

It was reported that George Mallory and Andrew Irvine had died during their attempt to summit Mount Everest.

Herbert Asquith inaugurated the new Liberal campaign in Scotland by addressing a meeting in the Usher Hall, Edinburgh. Their business, he said, was to make clear to the electorate at the General Election, which could not long be delayed, the fundamental differences which divided Liberalism from both its competitors. Protection and Socialism, he said, led alike to sectional predominance. He added that he had never seen the Liberal Party in a more healthy situation.

A crisis began in the building trade, with the national employers at a conference in London deciding to withdraw all offers of wages increases primarily to the strike of operatives in Liverpool. A national lock-out was called from 5 July.

20 JUNE 1924

An official statement of Unionist principles and aims was published, setting forth the attitude of the party on all the great questions calling for solution in the spheres of Imperial, foreign and domestic policy.

The position of British trade was discussed in the House of Commons on a Vote for the Board of Trade. Sidney Webb, the President of the Board, took an optimistic view although David Lloyd George, the former Prime Minister, was no sanguine.

General Nollet, the new French War Minister, said that the country took a grave view of Germany’s military preparations and that it would be an important part of discussions with the British Government.

Ramsay MacDonald, the Prime Minister, made a statement in the House of Commons backing up the action of Mr Cummins, the British representative in Mexico.

19 JUNE 1924

Voting on the Imperial Preference resolutions moved by Stanley Baldwin, the House of Commons rejected the first, which exempts Empire-produced dried fruits from import duty, by the narrow margin of six votes, the division figures being 278 against 272. The result was received with loud Opposition cheers.

Further correspondence between Ramsay MacDonald, the Prime Minister, Sir James Craig and President Cosgrave on the subject of the Irish Boundary Commission was issued as a White Paper.

General Smuts, in a message to his Election Committee, says that his faith in the future remains as strong as ever, although the immediate outlook before South Africa is gloomy.