The next step came very properly from the Government. In
the Commons on Tuesday Mr. Runciman announced that the Government had decided to apply by Proclamation the provisions of Part I. of the Munitions Act. Under these provisions it is an offence to take part in a strike or lock-out unless the dispute has been reported to the Board of Trade and the Board of Trade has not within twenty-one days referred it for settlement to the machinery set up by the Aot. The Labour leaders in the House promised to make the intentions of the Government known without delay to the South Wales miners. But this did not prevent the miners from ceasing work. On Thursday morning some hundred and fifty thousand men refused to go down the pits, and the strike spread greatly during the day. It was, however, hoped that the strike would, after all, be brief. The leaders were earnestly urging the men to return on day-to- day contracts, and Mr. Itunciman was invited again to intervene.
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