4 JANUARY 1924
The Air Ministry announced that the Royal Air Force is prepared to engage during the current year approximately 400 officers for flying duties under the short service commission scheme.
In a letter to the Prime Minister from the Women’s Freedom League, a request is made for the granting of recognition in the next Honours’ List to women who have rendered distinguished public service.
There was extensive flooding in Paris which continued to worsen.
3 JANUARY 1924
The Prime Minister’s reply to the City of London Conservative and Unionist Association regarding the political situation has not been made public. After a meeting of the Executive of the Association a statement was issued expressing their objections to a Socialist Government, and their hope that if a Unionist Administration supported by Liberals is not possible, the Unionist members will support a Liberal administration.
Sir Robert Horne, in an interview before leaving for America, referred to the political situation, and said it was a great misfortune that the moderate parties in the State at the present time were not able to represent moderate opinion, and that the situation should have developed into a position that was entirely unrepresentative of the opinion of the country.
Colonel Plastiras announced the resignation of the Revolutionary Government at the Greek National Assembly, where there were then tumultuous scenes.
The National Amalgamated Stevedores, Lightermen and Dockers’ Union has followed the example of the Transport and General Workers’ Union by giving notice to the dock labour employers to terminate the existing National Agreement on 1 February 1924.
2 JANUARY 1924
The King, replying to a New Year’s message from the Lord Mayor of London, expressed his confidence in the future of the country.
The City of London Conservative and Unionist Association have, it is reported, written to the Prime Minister expressing the view that they consider it is vitally necessary he should endeavour to come to some understanding with Herbert Asquith before Parliament meets.
JH Thomas MP, speaking in Derby, said that if the Labour Party were called to form a Government they would be free and unfettered by any alliances or agreements with any other party.
1 JANUARY 1924
The New Years honours list was announced. Lord Inchcape was created a Viscount and Sir Frederick Banbury MP, Sir Charles Darling and Colonel Sir Herbert Jessel were raised to the Peerage as Barons.
According to the Treasury returns for the past nine months, there was a decrease in the revenue of the United Kingdom of £52,277,668 compared with the corresponding period last year.
31 DECEMBER 1923
Advices from Calcutta indicate the anxieties of the Viceroy. No official explanation was given as to the abbreviation of his Burma tour.
Sir Auckland Geddes has resigned his post as British Ambassador to the United States and will be succeeded by Sir Esme Howard. Sir Horace Rumbold has been appointed as the British Ambassador to Spain.
FB Kellog, the new American Ambassador to Britain, arrived in London.
The death was announced of General Buat, the Chief of General Staff of the French Army.
Relations between Yugoslavia and Bulgaria were reported to be strained owing to a speech by the Bulgarian Premier, which was regarded in Belgrade as a challenge to the Yugoslavs.
A number of Bulgarian communists were expelled from Austria.
30 DECEMBER 1923
There were renewed rumours at Westminster that Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister, would resign as leader of the Conservative Party.
It was reported that the New Years Honours List would be short as it was expected that there might be a second honours list, traditionally given on the change of Government.
29 DECEMBER 1923
Mahomed Ali, the Khalifist leader, urged a congress of Indians at Coconada to unfurl the flag of a republic in the event of the Government’s failure to grant Swaraj (self-rule).
King Hussein has addressed an appeal to the people of Britain for sympathetic consideration of Arab claims and grievances.
David Lloyd George, the former Prime Minister, in an article on his recent tour in America, says he has returned more convinced than ever that the hope of mankind in the immediate future depends on the extent to which the two greatest Commonwealths on earth can be persuaded to work together in world affairs.
28 DECEMBER 1923
An attempt was made in Tokyo on the life of the Prince Regent, who escaped uninjured.
It was reported that the Japanese Government had resigned.
The situation in Greece remained calm after the peaceful overthrow of the Monarchy.
27 DECEMBER 1923
It was announced that Sir Robert Kindersley would replace Montague in the British representation on the Experts’ Committees on German reparation.
Dixmude, a Zeppelin airship built by the Germans and which was given to the French as part of war reparations, crashed in Sicily killing all 52 people on board.
PJ Ford, who was defeated in North Edinburgh at the recent General Election, has addressed a communication to his former constituents complaining of deliberate misstatements on the part of those who opposed him.
26 DECEMBER 1923
The German Government details in a Note to the Allied Governments the subjects, exclusively concerned with the Occupied Areas, upon which it wishes to enter into discussions.
Eleftherios Venizelos, the country’s former Prime Minister, was reportedly returning to Greece on 2 January 1924.
Clyde shipbuilding returns are the lowest for nearly forty years, partly as a result of the lock-out of the boilermakers.