THE ALLIANCE ACTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1921, Page 5

THE ALLIANCE ACTION.

HOW IT CAME ABOUT. HISTORIC DAY FOP. LABOR. STORY OF THE CLEAVAGE. . London, April 15. The railwaymen, the transporters and the miners have declared the strike off. Later messages indicate that the miners' strike continues. Received April 17, 5.5 p.m. London, April 10. Friday’s strange transitions, resulting in the 'abandonment of a general strike, are likely to rank as of historic importance in British Labor circles, ending, at least temporarily, the solidarity of the former Triple Alliance. The first symptom of cleavage arose Boring the morning, when the miners, instead of meeting Mr. Lloyd George as arranged, spent time considering the attitude of Mr. Frank Hodges ' (miners’ leader), which they condemned. The Daily News states that at one o’clock Messrs. Cramp, Gosling, Williams and Thomas (leaders of the Triple Alliance) went to the miners* meeting and earnestly pressed the executive to reopen negotiations for at least a tempoeary settlement, but as the executive rtx-L-dfastly refused, the Alliance leaders jeturned to Unity House and informed the conference proceeding there of the lacts. The cancellation of the strike Fas thereupon decided upon. It was not only the strike, but the triple Alliance which suffered disruption. The full effect of this event, and the reactions that must follow inside the Labor movement, will not become known immediately.

Other reports state that when the Selegates returned to Unity House from the miners’ meeting and reported the position, strorg feeling was displayed. The meeting became stormy and hastily concluded with the decision to call off the strike. Mr. Moore, secretary to the Locomotive Engineers’ and Firemen’s Association, gave the Triple Alliance attitude in {he following words: “As the miners repudiated Mr. Hodges it was felt the Alliance could not support them.” The decision of the Alliance caused b sensation in the House of Commons. The first intimation that the strike was off came by telegram to Mr. Lloyd George. Mr. J. R. Clynes (Leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party) was unaware of the change, and was actually telling the House that the railwaymen and the transporters could not desert their comrades, when Mr. Lloyd George rose and announced the Alliance decision amid unprecedented excitement, emotion, and cheering. The next stage was the sending out of wires by Messrs. Thomas and Cramp announcing that the strike 'vas cancelled and ordering all to remaifi af work. The news was variously received in differed It came as a thunderclap oouth Wales, where the railwaymei the pitmen had completed final Tients for a strike. These taeir «urfously angry, and the lozal leader- ith difficulty restrained them from nailing indignation meetings and eontfonmog tHe London leaders. Scotland’ jg quieter, but the miners are Intensely embittered.— Cable Assn.