M. Clemenceau has begun his official career by a bold
action. The disaster at Courrieres has been followed by a great strike, the .workmen accusing the mineowners. of making undue profits and neglecting, the comfort and safety of the labourers. The conflict promised to be a bitter one, and the Minister of the Interior thought it his duty to. intervene. Accbrdingly, last Saturday he went down to the strike area and interviewed the Trade-Union leaders, unaccompanied by any military or official escort. He seems to have been well received when he urged upon the men the duty of maintaining discipline, and of doing all in their power to respect mining property, which was their "livelihood." For the first time in a strike they would see no soldiers in the streets. The intervention of M. Clemenceau has undoubtedly done much to further a peaceful settlement, the Unions showing themselves disposed to negotiate peaceably and the masters declaring their readiness to consider all the demands and grievances of their employes. A considerable increase of wages has been offered, which is at present under consideration.
