Part 21 (2/2)
Mr Strummery had no difficulty in finding the telegrams alluded to.
Rushed through in frantic haste, the type had stood a hair's breadth higher than it should, and in the resulting blackness the words of the headlines leapt to meet his eye.
THE INDUSTRIAL WAR IN FRANCE
PROHIBITIVE TAX ON COAL
_From Our Special Correspondent_
PARIS _Wednesday Night._
”It is authoritatively stated that the industrial crisis which has been existing in the north, and to some extent in the Lyonnais districts, for the past six months is on the eve of a settlement. Yesterday M. Gavard returned from S. Etienne, and after seeing several of his colleagues and some leading members of the Chamber of Commerce, left at once for Lens. Early this morning he was met at the Maison du Peuple by deputations from the Syndicate of Miners, the 'Broutchouteux,' the a.s.sociation of Mine Owners, the Valenciennes iron masters, and representatives of some other industries.
”The proceedings were conducted in private, but it is understood in well-informed circles here that in accordance with the plenary powers conferred on him by the Chambers in view of the critical situation, M. Gavard proposed to raise the small existing tax on imported coal to an _ad valorem_ tax of 55 p.c. The mine owners on their side will guarantee a minimum wage of 8f. 15c., and commence working at once, reinstating all men within a week of the imposing of the tax. The amalgamated industries acquiesce to a general immediate advance of 1f.
75_c._ per ton (metric) in the price of coal, and will start running as soon as the first portion of their orders can be filled.
”Troops are still being ma.s.sed in the affected districts, but after last Thursday's pitched battle a tone of sullen apathy is generally preserved. There was, however, severe rioting at Anzin this morning, and about 200 casualties are reported.”
PARIS. _Later._
”The terms of settlement contained in my earlier message are confirmed. They will remain in operation for a year. The tax will come into force almost immediately, three days' grace being allowed for vessels actually in French ports to unload.
In view of your Government's subsidy to English coal exportation and its disastrous effects on French mining, and, subsequently, on other industries, the imposition of the tax will be received with approval in most quarters.”
As the Prime Minister reached the end of the paragraph he heard a vehicle stop at his door, followed by an attack on bell and knocker that caused Mrs Strummery no little indignation. It was Mr Tubes arriving, after indulging in the unusual luxury of a cab, and the next minute he was shown into his chief's presence. Both men unconsciously frowned somewhat as they met, but the ex-collier was infinitely the more disturbed of the two.
”You got my 'script?” he asked, as they shook hands.
”No; did you write?” replied Mr Strummery. ”To tell the truth, this meddling piece of imbecility on Hampden's part, and his gross impertinence in sending it to me, put everything else out of my head for the moment. You have seen it?”
”You wouldn't need to ask that if you'd pa.s.sed a newspaper shop,” said Mr Tubes grimly. ”The newsbills are full of nothing else. 'COAL WAR PROCLAIMED,' 'HAMPDEN'S REPLY TO THE P.P. TAX,' 'UNITY LEAGUE MANIFESTO,' and a dozen more. I had private word of it last night, but too late to do anything. That's why I asked half a dozen of them--Vossit, Guppling, Chadwing, and one or two more--to meet me here at half-past nine. Happen a few others will drop in now.”
”Well, don't let them see that you think the world is coming to an end,”
said the Premier caustically. ”Nothing may come of it yet.”
”That's all very well, Strummery,” said Mr Tubes, with rising anger.
”All very well for you; you don't come from a Durham division. I shall have it from both sides. Twenty thousand howling const.i.tuents and six hundred raving members.”
”Let them rave. They know better than press it too far. As for the miners, if they have to lose by it we can easily make grants to put them right.” A sudden thought struck him; he burst out laughing. ”Well, Tubes,” he exclaimed boisterously, ”I can excuse myself, but I should have thought that a man who came from a Durham const.i.tuency would have seen _that_ before. Hampden must either be mad, or else he knows that his precious League won't stand very much. Don't you see? We are in the middle of summer now, and _for the next three months people will be burning hardly any coal at all_!”
The Home Secretary jumped up and began to pace the room in seething impatience, before he could trust himself to speak.
”Don't talk like that before the House with fifty practical men in it, for G.o.d's sake, Strummery,” he exclaimed pa.s.sionately. ”Hampden couldn't well have contrived a more diabolical moment. Do you know what the conditions are? Well, listen. No one _is_ burning any coal, and so it will be no hards.h.i.+p for them to do without. But every one is on the point of filling his cellar at summer prices to last all through the winter. And Hampden's five million----”
”I don't believe that,” interposed the Premier hastily.
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