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I 894 pT HIS DOCUiENT IS THE PR 0 P ERTY OF, HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT).

Is E C R E T% COPY NO: *—

I 7X1

K .P. 195 ( 26 ) * f(Uncorreoted c o p y ) . C A B I N E T .

TERMINATION OF THE GENERAL STRIKE.

STENOGRAPHIC NOTES of a Meeting held at 10, Downing S t r e e t , S..W..1., on Wednesday, May 12th, 1926, at 12.20 p.m.

THE FOLLOWING WERE PRESENT:-

The Rt.Hon. Stanley Ba ldwin ,(Prime M i n i s t e r ) .

I . ; . P . ,

The Rt .Hon. S i r L, V/or th ing ton -Evans ,( S ec r e t a r y of S ta te for W a r ) .

- B a r t , , G .B .E . , M .P . ,

The Rt.Hon. The E a r l of Birkenhead, ( S e c r e t a r y of State f o r Ind ia ) . -

I The Rt .Hon.

( F i r s t W.C.. Bridgeman, M .P . , Lord of the A d m i r a l t y ) .

The Rt.Hon. N e v i l l e Chamberla in, L.P.\, ( M i n i s t e r of H e a l t h ) .

The Rt.Hon. S i r Arthur S t e e l - M a i t l a n d , B a r t . , L . P . , ( M i n i s t e r of L a b o u r ) .

I Col'­ The Rt .Hon. G.R. Lane-Fox, M .P . , ( S e c r e t a r y f o r L i n e s ) .

S i r Horace J* Wi l son , E . C . B . , C .B .E . , ( S e c r e t a r y , M i n i s t r y of L a b o u r ) .

M.r. -E.A. Gowers, C . B . , (Permanent Under S e c r e t a r y , Mines Department) ,

Mrv T.. Jones, (Deputy Sec r e t a r y , Cabinet O f f i c e s ) .

THE TRADES UNION CONGRESS GENERAL COUNCIL.

Mr. Arthur Pugh (Cha i rman) .

N r . A . B . Swales (V i ce -Cha i rman ) .

N r . W . M . ' C i t r i n e (Ac t ing General S e c r e t a r y )

(And other -Members ) .

10 Downing

S t r e e t . S . v7 f l . 12 .20 . p .m. 1 2 . 5 . 2 6 . $Q-J)

pp.I : i ^ i S T JR. - . . r . :.ugh, w i l l you Toe goodBo

enough

t o make a st at enent ?

;IR. PuGh; V/ell s i r , whew we s e p a r a t e d something

over a week age i t was o f course r e c o g n i s e d and. e xp r e s s ed on

bo th s i d e s tha t t h e u l t i m a t e end would he a s e t t l e m e n t o f

t h i s mat t e r by n e g o t i a t i o n s and a l t h o u g h t h e c o n f l i c t has been

v e r y much ex tended and deve lopments have taken p l a c e s i n c e

then c l e a r l y b o t h s i d e s and a l l a ides and a l l p a r t i e s have

had i n v i e w , they must have had, the u l t i m a t e ar rangements

tha t would have t o be made t o b r i n g t i l s t r o u b l e t o a

success fu l end. ./e, o f c ou r s e , l i k e y o u r s e l f , have had

d e s p i t e wha t e v e r deve l opments might h a v e taicen p l a c e ,

everybody has had t o d i r e c t t h e i r t h o u g h t s i n tha t channel

and t o use such, o p p o r t u n i t i e s as presented , t h e m s e l v e s and

such p u b l i c o p i n i o n t h a t e x i s t e d w i t h a v i e w t o e f f e c t i n g a

resumption o f n e g o t i a t i o n s . I n t h a t r e s p e c t , s i r , your

c o n t r i b u t i o n was made i n the s ta tement d e l i v e r e d - t o the p e o p l e

of the country th rough t h e w i r e l e s s s t a t i o n s . That was something

which we on our s i d e c e r t a i n l y could not i g n o r e . pn t h e o the r

hand we had been e x p l o r i n g o ther p o s s i b i l i t i e s w i t h f u l l

knowledge t h a t w h a t e v e r happened and however l o n g t h e p r e sen t

p o s i t i o n l a s t e d or w h a t e v e r might be i t s consequences i n t h e

long run t h e p r o c e s s o f n e g o t i a t i o n s w o u l d have t o be gone

th rough . w e l l , as a r e s u l t o f deve l opments in t h a t d i r e c t i o n

and the p o s s i b i l i t i e s t h a t we see i n g e t t i n g back t o

n e g o t i a t i o n s an ! your a s s u r a n c e , speak ing f o r t h e g e n e r a l

corn-unity o f c i t i z e n s as a w h o l e , t h a t no s t e p s should be l e f t

unturned t o g e t back t o n e g o t i a t i o n s , we are h e r e t oday , s i r ,

t o say t h a t t h i s g e n e r a l s t r i k e i s t o be t e r m i n a t e d f o r t h w i t h

i n o rder t h a t n e g o t i a t i o n s may p r o c e e d and we can on l y hope

may p ro c e ed i n a manner wh ich w i l l b r i n , about a s a t i s f a c t o r y

s e t t l e m e n t . That i s t h e announcement wh i ch my Genera l Counc i l . B.

i s empowered t o make.

PRIME MIl i .TST . i iLR : That i s t h e g e n e r a l s t r i k e i s

t o he c a l l e d o f f o r t h w i t h ?

MR. PUGH: F o r t h w i t h . That means i m m e d i a t e l y .

There i s j u s t a p o i n t about t h e a c t u a l a r rangement , but t h a t

i s i n e f f e c t what i t means. I t i s m e r e l y a m a t t e r o 1 t h e bes t

way t o ge t i t done w i t h t h e l e a s t c o n f u s i o n .

PRII.RC MINISTER: I mean t h e r e wou ld be a g r e a t

deal o f work for b o t h o f us t o do . ' A l l I would say i n answer

t o t h a t i s I thank God f o r your d e c i s i o n and I would o n l y say

now, I do not t h i n k i t i s a moment f o r l e n g t h y d i s c u s s i o n , I

on ly say now I a ccep t f u l l y and c o n f i r m f u l l y a l l I have s a i d

i n the l a s t two pa rag raphs o f my b r o a d c a s t e d messags . I s h a l l

c a l l my Cabinet t o g e t h e r f o r t h w i t h , r e p o r t t o them what you

have sa i d and I s h a l l l o s e no t ime i n u s i n g e v e r y endeavour

t o g e t t h e two con t end ing p a r t i e s t o g e t h e r and do a l l I can

t o ensure a j u s t and l a s t i n g s e t t l e m e n t . I hope i t may be

p o s s i b l e b e f o r e l o n g t o make a s ta tement o f t h e l i n e s on which

we hope t o accomp l i sh tha t end .

MR, THOMAS: Only one or two o f us w i s h t o say

anyth ing t o you and i t w i l l be v e r y b r i e f . You answered us

i n the way we knew you would answer u s , namely , t h a t j u s t as

you r e c o g n i s e we have done a b i g t h i n g i n a c c e p t i n g t h e

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y we f e l t sure t h e b i g t h i n g wou ld be responded

t o i n a b i g way. We a r e s a t i s f i e d a l l t o o w e l l t h a t i t w i l l

not be a day or two or a week, i n w h i c h t h e d i s l o c a t i o n and

d i f f i c u l t y can be put r i g h t , but w h a t e v e r may be the v i ew

o f the m e r i t s o f t h e d i s p u t e now end ing t h e r e i s common

agreement t h a t a s s i s t a n c e from t h o s e who were oppos ing p a r t i e s

t e n minutes ago i s e s s e n t i a l t o r e c t i f y and. make good and

s t a r t t h i n g s on tire r i g h t r oad a g a i n . Your a s s i s t a n c e i n

that.) i s n e c e s s a r y 3 our a s s i s t a n c e i s n e c e s s a r y . We i n t e n d

to g i v e i t and i n d o i n g t h a t we b e l i e v e you can h e l p . We want

you t o h e l p us i n tha t d i r e c t i o n - I n e v e r l i k e d the word war

and I do not want t o use i t , but we want your h e l p when t h i s

d i spu te i s ended. We t r u s t your word as Pr ime M i n i s t e r . We

ask you t o a s s i s t us i n the way joix o n l y can a s s i s t us by

asking employers and a l l o t h e r s t o make t h e p o s i t i o n as easy

and smooth as p o s s i b l e because the one t h i n g we must not have g u e r i l l a

i s -garixiba w a r f a r e 0 That must be a v o i d e d and i n tha t b o t h

s ides have t o c o n t r i b u t e i m m e d i a t e l y . N o t h i n g could be wo rse

than t h a t t h i s g r e a t d e c i s i o n which we have t aken should be

i n t e r p r e t e d o t h e r w i s e than as a g e n e r a l d e s i r e t o do t h e

r i g h t t h i n g i n a d i f f i c u l t moment f o r the i n d u s t r y o f t h e

n a t i o n .

1IR. BE VPN: I t h i n k you w i l l a g r e e i n the

d i f f i c u l t i e s we have had b e f o r e u s , at l e a s t we have t aken a

g r e a t r i s k i n c a l l i n g t h e s t r i k e o f f . I want t o u rge i t must

not be r e g a r d e d as an ac t o f weakness but r a t h e r one o f

s t r eng ths I am not t a l k i n g o f s t r e n g t h o f musc le and brawn

but r a t h e r t h a t i t t o o k a l i t t l e courage t o t a k e the l i n e we

halpe done . I want t o s t r e s s I i r . Thomas ' a p o i n t and ask you i f

you could t e l l us whe the r you are p r e p a r e d t o make a g e n e r a l

r e q u e s t as head o f the Government tha t . , f a c i l i t i e s e t c e t e r a ,

eady f a c i l i t i e s f o r r e i n s t a t e m e n t and t h a t k i n d o f t h i n g s h a l l

be g i v e n f o r t h w i t h . The p o s i t i o n i s t h i s . Some o f t h e

u n d e r t a k i n g s tha t a r e a f f e c t e d , o f c o u r s e , a r e a f f e c t e d by

A s s o c i a t i o n s wh ich are g e t - a t - a b l e , o t h e r w i s e are a l l over

the coun t r y . When t h i s goes out i n the P r e s s i t may cause

un to l d c on fus i on , but i f you cou ld a g r e e w i t h us t o make a

d e c l a r a t i o n i t would I t h i n k f a c i l i t a t e m a t t e r s and employe rs

no doubt have been a c t i n g at l e a s t i n c a r r y i n g out the s p i r i t .

Be

o f t h e Government dur ing t h e f i g h t n a t u r a l l y and they would

no doubt r e spond t o a s t a t ement o f t h a t c h a r a c t e r and I would

put i t t o you v e r y s t r o n g l y tha t t h a t i s one o f t h e e a s i e s t

ways o f do ing t h i n g s . One o f t h e r e a s o n s I want t o put i t

t o you i s t h i s o I n a d i s l o c a t i o n o f t h i s c h a r a c t e r i t does

a f f e c t p r o d u c t i o n v e r y much, e s p e c i a l l y i n p roduc ing t r a d e s

and i f t h e r e i s a r e sumpt i on w i ths a s o r t o f good f e e l i n g

then the t h i n g g e t s back on t o i t s usua l f o o t i n g v e r y

r a p i d l y 0 I f t h e r e i s not then i t does a f f e c t the r e s t o r a t i o n , ,

I remember a f t e r t h e 1912 S t r i k e when we we re b e a t e n S i r

Joseph Broodbank went i n t o i t v e r y c a r e f u l l y and t h e l o s s

i n output o f t r a n s p o r t was something l i k e t w e n t y - f i v e pe r c e n t 0

for some time^, u n t i l t h e w a r , We do not want t h a t k ind o f

t h i n g . We have had a row and i t does upse t thingSj but we

are q u i t e w i l l i n g t o c o - o p e r a t e w i t h our men t o r e p a i r the

damage j u s t as much as t h e e m p l o y e r b but the emp loye rs are s

the p e o p l e who can f a c i l i t a t e t ha t k i n d o f f e e l i n g and I

am sure t h e y wou ld r espond t o you i f you i s s u e d t h a t as a

s t a t e m e n t . I t wou ld b e v e r y h e l p f u l to us b e f o r e we l e f t

the b u i l d i n g i f we cou ld have some i n d i c a t i o n i n t h a t d i r e c t i o n

because we s h a l l have t o send t e l e g r a m s t o Unions whose

h e a d q u a r t e r s a r e not i n London w i t h whom we cannot converse

and c o u p l i n g w i t h i t a d e c l a r a t i o n from y o u r s e l f would i n a

way g i v e the l e a d a3 t o how the t h i n s i s t o be approached . You

s a i d , s i r , a l s o you we r e g o i n g t o c a l l t h e p a r t i e s t o g e t h e r

i n o rder t o e f f e c t a j u s t s e t t l e m e n t . how we have, c a l l e d our

show o f f and work w i l l be resuming p r e t t y qu ick ly , , I do not

know whether I am o v e r t s e p p i n g t h e bounds but I would l i k e you

t o g i v e me an i d e a o f whether tha t means t h a t t h e r e i s t o be

a r esumpt ion o f t h e min ing o p e r a t i o n s w i t h us or whe ther a l l

the n e g o t i a t i o n s have t o be c a r r i e d on w h i l e t h e miners s t i l l

f? Q Q w o w

Bo

remain out 0

Lfflo THOMAS: That i m p l i e s t h a t we i n t e r p r e t your

speech t o mean what I am sure i t did. raean,

mi. BjtGVIif: I t h e l p e d us t o r i s e t o t h e o c c a s i o n .

I thought p e r s o n a l l y ­ o f course i t i s so d i f f i c u l t when

you have t o t ake i t w i t h o u t c o n v e r s i n g - I r e a l l y f e l t i n t h e

event o f our- t a k i n g t h e l e a d i n a s s u r i n g you we w e r e g o i n g

t o p l a y the game and put our p e o p l e back tha t i t was g o i n g

to be f r e e and u n f e t t e r e d n e g o t i a t i o n w i t h t h e p a r t i e s v e r y

s p e e d i l y because thousands o f our p e o p l e cannot go back i f

the c o l l i e r s a r e s t i l l out and i f t h e c o l l i e r s a r e s t i l l out

i t i s g o i n g t o make i t e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t to g e t a smooth

running o f t h e mach ine 0 Those a r e t h e two p o i n t s I w i s h

t o put to y ou .

PRIMS MINISTER: W e l l , u r 0 B e v i n , I cannot say

more h e r e at t h i s m e e t i n g now, I d i d not know what p o i n t s

you we re g o i n g to r a i s e or tha t any th ing wou ld be sa id beyond

t h e s ta tement o f Pug l i . The p o i n t you have put i s one i0

must c o n s i d e r and I v / i l l c ons i d e r i t a t once , I would o n l y

say i n my v i ew t h e b e s t t h i n g t o do i s t o g e t as q u i c k l y as

p o s s i b l e i n t o touch w i t h t h e employers , , I t h i n k tha t t h e

qu i cke r t h a t i s done t h e l e s s f r i c t i o n t h e r e w i l l b e , You know

my r e c o r d . You know the o b j e c t o f my p o l i c y and I think. yoS

may t r u s t me t o c ons i d e r what has been s a i d w i t h a v i ew t o

s e e i n g how be s t we can g e t the count ry q u i c k l y back i n t o the

c o n d i t i o n i n which we a l l want t o see i t . You w i l l want my

c o - o p e r a t i o n and I s h a l l want yours t o t r y ana make good t h e

damage done t o the t r a d e and t r y and make t h i s count ry a l i t t l e

b e t t e r and a happ i e r plac^. than i t has been i n r e c e n t y e a r s .

That w i l l b e my s t eady endeavour and I l o o k t o a l l o f you

when we a r e through t h i s f o r your c o - o p e r a t i o n i n that, , I

s h a l l do my pa r t and. I have no doubt you w i l l do yours 0 In

r e g a r d t o the second po in t t h e r e a g a i n I cannot say at t h i s

moment what w i l l happen because I s h a l l have t o see t h e

p a r t i e s o My o b j e c t , o f c ou r s e , i s t o g e t t h e mines s t a r t e d

the f i r s t moment p o s s i b l e and g e t an agreement reached, , I

cannot say u n t i l I have seen them e x a c t l y what the l i n e s w i l l

be upon wh i ch my o b j e c t can b e s t b e a t t a i n e d , but you may

r e l y on me and r e l y on t h e Cabinet t h a t t h e y w i l l see no s t ep

i s l e f t unturned t o accompl i sh t h a t end , Ebw3 Mr 0 Pugh 3 as I

sa id b e f o r e ^ we have b o t h o f us g o t a g r e a t d ea l t o do and a

g r ea t d ea l o f anx ious and d i f f i c u l t work and I t l i i nk tha t t h e

sooner you g e t t o your work .and t h e sooner I g e t t o m i n e ' t h e

b e t t e r ,

MR, HIGH: Yesy tha t sums up the p o s i t i o n f o r

the moment 0

MR, BEVIN: I am a l i t t l e p e r s i s t e n t o I do not

want t o t a k e up your t i m e , but s h a l l we be m e e t i n g on th e s e

two p o i n t s soon?

PRIME MINISTER: I cannot say that, , - r 0 B e v i i i c I

t h i n k i t may be t h a t w h a t e v e r d e c i s i o n I come t o t h e House o f

Commons may be the b e s t p l a c e i n w h i c h t o say i t ' I cannot say

at the moment whether t h e b e t t e r t h i n g wou ld be t o do i t t h e r e

or meet a g a i n , but we a re g o i n g t o c o n s i d e r r i g h t away what

i s b e s t .

(The p r o c e e d i n g s then t e r m i n a t e d )

TO Downing S t r e e t , s iWolo c

12th May, * 1926 0