Tag: 100 Years Ago

4 FEBRUARY 1924

The letters sent between Raymond Poincaré, the French Prime Minister, and Ramsay MacDonald, the new Labour Prime Minister, showed that both Premiers expressed a wish for continued co-operation between France and the UK to solve the current international problems.

The Congress of Soviets at Moscow passed a resolution on the subject of the British Government’s recognition of Soviet Russia. The Congress notes with satisfaction that “this historic step was once of the first acts of the first Government in Great Britain chosen by the working class”.

In connection with the dockers’ demand for increased wages, Mr Bevin, General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union, received a letter from the National Union of Railwaymen promising co-operation in event of a strike.

3 FEBRUARY 1924

The death was announced of Woodrow Wilson, the former US President.

Ramsay MacDonald, the first socialist Prime Minister, visited Chequers for the first time and said that he intended to make full use of the residence.

2 FEBRUARY 1924

It was announced that the British Government would now formally recognise the Russian Soviet Government.

It was reported that Dr Woodrow Wilson, the former US President, was seriously ill.

Ramsay MacDonald, the new Prime Minister, received the members of the Agricultural Advisory Committee for England and Wales at Downing Street.

1 FEBRUARY 1924

In his speech at the State opening of the Legislative Assembly at Delhi, the Viceroy, Lord Reading, emphasised the necessity for preserving continuity of progress in the reform movement, and said that the future of the reforms rested largely with the people of India and the legislature.

The French Government indicated that they were pleased with the correspondence of Ramsay MacDonald, the new Prime Minister, on the matter of international relations.

The Irish Boundary Conference opened in London.

According to a Colonial Office statement, the whole question of the employment of aircraft in Iraq in support of the civil authorities was being considered by the Government.

30 JANUARY 1924

Ramsay MacDonald, the Prime Minister, arrived in Edinburgh on official business.

The dockers declared their intention to strike on 16 February unless their demands for increased wages and improved conditions were complied with.

It was announced that the rail strike was coming to an end after prolonged talks.

29 JANUARY 1924

Prolonged negotiations with the object of bringing the railway strike to an end took place in London.

The First Committee of Experts left Paris for London.

Ramsay MacDonald, the new Prime Minister, said that too much shouldn’t be expected of the Government as they were taking power as a minority party.

28 JANUARY 1924

The Trades Union Congress set up a Mediation Committee in a bid to resolve the strike on the railways.

Charles Granville Bruce discussed his plans for the planned ascent of Mount Everest. He said that the arrangements for the third expedition that would take place in the spring were nearly now complete.

27 JANUARY 1924

The death was announced of Vladimir Lenin, with the funeral having been postponed due to the size of the crowds gathering in Moscow.

The Treaty of Alliance and Friendship between France and Czechoslovakia was signed in Paris.

26 JANUARY 1924

Ramsay MacDonald, the Prime Minister, said that he was monitoring the situation with the railway strike closely.

Ramsay MacDonald said that he hoped for calm in India, saying that he saw no hope for India if it became an “arena of struggle between Constitutionalism and Revolution”. He added that he hoped India would “come nearer to us rather than to stand apart from us”.

The death was announced of Dan Irving, the Labour MP for Burnley.

25 JANUARY 1924

Correspondence between the railway managers and the Executive of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen failed to lead to a joint conference and it was stated that the strike must continue.

Government sources said that they were unhappy with the railway strike and were hoping that a compromise could be reached.

Harry Gosling was appointed as the Minister of Transport and Frank Hodges the Civil Lord of the Admiralty.