No shorthand notes were taken at this meeting. But this Committee cannot deny that such a formula was drafted and was accepted at least by Mr. J. H. Thomas. I have been informed that it was also placed before the General Council that evening, and that they instructed their Chairman, Mr. Pugh, to try to get the miners to accept it.
The report of the debate in the House of Commons (Hansard for May 4th), throws a great deal of light on this formula. The Chairman of the T.U.C. and Mr. Thomas made it quite clear that what they had been discussing with the Prime Minister did mean a reduction of wages. Here again we find certain representatives of the T.U.C. willing to give up the line of policy agreed to by the whole movement.
That formula definitely declared in favour of a reduction of wages for the miners. Thus we saw some Labour leaders agreeing with the Government that the miners' wages must be reduced.
While this discussion was going on a letter was handed to the T.U.C. as follows:—
"His Majesty's Government believe that no solution of the difficulties in the coal industry which is both practicable and honourable to all concerned can be reached except by sincere acceptance of the Report of the Commission.
"If the miners or the Trade Union Committee on their behalf, were prepared to say plainly that they accepted this proposal, the Government would have been ready to resume the negotiations, and to continue the subsidy for a fortnight.
"But since the discussions which have taken place between Ministers and members of the T.U. Committee, it has come to the knowledge of the Government not only that specific instructions have been sent (under the authority of the Executive of Trade Unions represented at the Conference convened by the General Council of the T.U.C.), asking their members in several of the most vital industries and services of the country to carry out a General Strike on Tuesday next, but that overt acts have already taken place, including gross interference with the freedom of the Press.
"Such action involved a challenge to the Constitutional rights and freedom of the nation.
"His Majesty's Government, therefore, before it can continue negotiations, must require from the T.U. Committee both a repudiation of the actions referred to that have already taken place, and an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the instructions for a General Strike."
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