Allied to the possibilities we have just stated is the
fact that, though the Government have wisely refused to do any- thing which could be represented as a throat, they recognize that they have great responsibilities in the matter. They understand that if the conferences finally break down, owing to the unwillingness of the union leaders to accept the proposals, they will be bound to act, and act strongly. People sometimes talk as if such an attitude on the part of the Government were nothing but bluff, and as if they were utterly powerless. The Government in the last resort are not powerless, and they are fully aware that they are not. The people who say hopelessly and help- lessly : "What could the Government do P How could they drive the mon down the pits to work if the men refuse to work F" do not in the least realize the real nature of the situa- tion. Of course the Government cannot force men to work who are determined not to work. What they can do, as we pointed out last 'week, is to tell- the owners, who, we may be sure, would not refuse, to open a certain number of pits in each district, and to give absolute and complete protection to any men, whether union men or free workers, who desire to go down the pits. Under those conditions there can be no question that sufficient pits would very soon be at work to supply the amount of coal which is absolutely necessary to prevent national ruin.
