There are 45 member states of the League of Nations, 11 of which are Commonwealth countries. This may be the reason why the United States is unwilling to join the League of Nations.
As July approaches, more and more tourists are flocking to Pretoria, but the farce in the UK is getting more intense.
The living conditions of British coal miners are poor. In 1925, the average weekly salary of coal miners was 30 shillings, equivalent to an annual salary of about 80 pounds. Their income was at the bottom of the society.
An annual salary of 80 pounds is not bad in southern Africa. After all, prices in southern Africa are cheaper, especially food. An annual salary of 80 pounds is enough to meet the living needs of a family.
There was too little in the UK. During the World War, the cheapest meat in London soared from 7 pence to 45 pence per pound (450 grams). Although it fell slightly after the World War, it did not fall back to the level before the World War.
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In other words, after the World War, prices in Britain rose rapidly, but coal miners' wages did not rise.
In this case, in order to make profits, the mine owners also requested to reduce the wages of coal miners and extend their working hours, which was indeed unacceptable to the coal miners.
Many coal miners have to work part-time at other jobs after get off work to maintain the livelihood of their families.
Now that 7 hours has been extended to 8 hours, and the salary has been reduced by another 10%, one person working three jobs cannot support his family, and the coal miners will definitely go on strike.
Lord Weir, leader of the special investigation team sent by Stanley Baldwin, submitted a "Webster Report" at the end of June, conducting an in-depth investigation into the living conditions of coal miners.
"Existing information shows that the living conditions of coal miners are indeed poor. A normal family of five needs at least 5 pounds per month for food alone. They also have to rent a house, buy clothes, and pay for their children.
education expenses, as well as medical expenses, transportation expenses, taxes, etc. - not just coal miners, but other lower-class people as well. Last year, we had a total of 750,000 people using electricity in the country. This is normal. They
We can't even maintain our lives, and we simply can't enjoy the convenience brought by scientific and technological progress -" Lord Weir's investigation report is not very detailed, which is understandable. After all, the time is too short, and Lord Weir can produce such a report,
I am already worthy of my salary.
"Lord, the issue we are discussing now is how to urge coal miners to return to work as soon as possible -" Neville interrupted Lord Weir's report. The coal miners' strike affected everyone's hearts, especially Neville.
Neville started his business by smelting non-ferrous metals, and now the Chamberlain family is still one of the largest steel suppliers in the UK.
The coal miners' strike brought huge losses to the British economy. In 1917, British steel production once exceeded 10 million tons, and dropped to only 3.75 million tons in 1921. Since then, it has recovered year by year. Last year, British steel production was still 8.5 million tons. This year
Steel production is expected to drop significantly, reaching 7 million tons. Neville is thankful.
Steel is the basis of all industries. Without steel, industrial manufacturing would be impossible.
"Now it's not that coal miners don't want to work, but that mine owners have united to brutally exploit coal miners. Coal miners have the right to make their own demands." Lord Weir was also dissatisfied. A few days ago, coal miners proposed that they could accept extended working hours.
requirements, but hope to keep the previous salary unchanged.
Unfortunately, the Coal Mines Federation insisted on reducing wages by 10%, and negotiations broke down again.
The long strike has led to extreme hardship in the lives of coal miners. Many coal miner families have lost their income and can only look for food in garbage dumps.
The British Isles are not southern Africa. The degree of development is relatively mature. There are no wild fruits to pick and no wild animals to hunt. After coal miners lost their jobs, security problems occurred frequently. Children were severely malnourished and many women had to sell their bodies.
In exchange for food.
If this situation continues, over time, the UK may replace the Netherlands and become the largest country in Europe.
"The interests of coal miners must be protected, but shouldn't the interests of the mines be protected? Do you know how much coal is imported every day? Do you know that the coal from southern Africa sent to Cardiff is better than the coal mined by Cardiff itself?
The price must be lower? Do you know how much steel the Royal Navy Dockyard purchases from the United States every year? The warships used by the Royal Navy are actually built with foreign steel. This is a shame for the Royal Navy." Neville inadvertently exposed his flaws.
, He talks about doctrines, but his heart is all about business.
“Haha——” Lord Weir sneered twice and did not respond.
Eggs cannot be put in the same basket. The Royal Navy Dockyard will not only purchase steel produced by local steel plants. The Chamberlain family is the agent of southern African steel in the UK. This is where all the contradictions lie.
“John, can the Union of Coal Miners make a step forward and restore the operation of the coal mines as soon as possible.” Stanley Baldwin said that this is the traditional skill of the British government.
The coal miners have now given in, and as long as the mine owners are willing to give in, the protracted strike will end smoothly, and Stanley Baldwin can deal with Labor attacks and pressure from Buckingham Palace.
The coal miners had been on strike for several months and it was impossible not to attract the attention of George V.
Just yesterday, King George V summoned Stanley Baldwin again to inquire about the progress of the strike.
Stanley Baldwin keenly felt that George V's patience with him was wearing thin.
If this problem cannot be solved as soon as possible, the tragedy of collective resignation of the cabinet may happen again.
This is tantamount to disaster for the Conservative Party, which has just gained the trust of George V.
It cannot be said that there is trust, and there is nothing George V can do about it. With the Liberal Party gradually declining, apart from the Conservative Party, the only thing George V can trust is the Labor Party.
Although the Conservative Party performed poorly, the Labor Party performed even worse. Ramsay Macdonald's short career as Prime Minister proved that the Labor Party did not yet have the ability to govern independently. George V had no choice but the Conservative Party.
Of course, choosing the Conservative Party does not mean choosing Stanley Baldwin. In addition to Stanley Baldwin, there are other influential ministers in the Conservative Party, such as Arthur Balfour, such as Neville, and others who have made it public
Winston left the Conservative Party and became active in British politics as an independent.
"Your Excellency Prime Minister, Minister Neville has just said that the British coal industry is facing fierce competition in domestic and foreign markets. Coal from southern Africa sent to Cardiff is indeed cheaper than coal produced in Cardiff. Coal from the United States
It is also cheap and has a huge impact on the local coal market. It is understandable that miners want to protect their own interests. However, if the mine loses the competition and has to close, then not only the mine owners and workers will be affected.
interests." Johnston refused to give in. This was not a matter of salary, but whether he could survive.
For the British domestic coal industry, coal from southern Africa, this is competition within the Commonwealth.
And coal from the United States is an international competition.
The price of coal in the United States is also very cheap. The reason is very normal. The coal mines in southern Africa hire African-American workers and they still have to pay wages. Some coal mines in the United States directly use slaves to mine, and the cost is infinitely close to zero.
Don’t think that the United States abolished slavery after the Civil War. The U.S. federal government’s control over states is extremely weak, especially in the southern states. You may not believe it, but Mississippi in the United States did not abolish slavery until 2013. That’s already
This happened 148 years after the end of the Civil War.
"If we want to end the strike as soon as possible, the two most feasible ways are to force the coal miners to accept the mine owners' conditions, and the other is to continue to provide subsidies to the coal mines so that the mine owners can persist." Neville proposed these two options.
None of the plans are very reliable.
"Force? This is not 1826, but 1926. How can we use the method of 'force'?" Lord Weir was simply angry.
Neville did not speak, the final decision rested with Stanley Baldwin.
Stanley Baldwin was deeply troubled.
Forcing this method is unlikely, and it might lead to more serious consequences. Stanley Baldwin does not want another national strike.
It is also unrealistic to continue to subsidize coal mines. A year ago, the government decided to give mine owners a subsidy of 23 million pounds, which did not allow the mines to survive this crisis. 23 million pounds was obviously unable to satisfy the greed of the mine owners. Another 23 million pounds
Same thing.
Perhaps 230 million will do.
It is a pity that the British government cannot come up with this money, let alone 230 million, and let the British government spend another 23 million without showing it.
“If miners’ families have no income, how long can they persist?” Stanley Baldwin chose the most dangerous way.
"What do you mean?" Lord Weir's voice was trembling.
“It means if there continues to be no income, how long will it take for the workers to accept the conditions of the mine owner-” Neville said coldly.
"No, Mr. Prime Minister, you can't do that. Coal miners are also British. Don't forget that you are the British Prime Minister and they are also your people-" Lord Weir shouted loudly. He was a man of conscience and could not let it go.
This happens.
“Owners of mines are also subjects of the British Empire!” Johnston’s attitude was equally resolute. Lord Weir faced a double challenge from Johnston and Neville.
"Then it's decided. Let's wait for a while. If the coal miners accept the mine owner's conditions, then everything will be fine - if not, we will consider other options -" Stanley Baldwin decided to sacrifice the interests of the coal miners.
, losing this part of the vote may cause the Conservative Party to lose in the next general election.
But if the interests of mine owners were sacrificed, the Conservative government would collapse now.
Now or in the future, this is a heavy topic.
"What a pleasant decision!" Lord Weir was extremely angry, but it was a pity that no one cared about him.