27 SEPTEMBER 1924, Page 3

* Unhappily the miners are paying much more attention at

present to the possible results of the Dawes scheme than to the internal reorganization of British mines. The Federation has asked the Prime Minister for an early interview on the subject of the Dawes scheme. The Prime Minister has pointed out in reply that " physical difficulties " may prevent the interview from taking place in the immediate future. The miners meanwhile are displaying much impatience. Their idea is that the low wages and long hours in German mines make German competition entirely unfair to British miners. They desire (as we all do, if it comes to that) that the Washington Agreement with regard to the eight hours' day should be applied. But in this matter, unfortunately, they will be up against the German industrialists, and Mr. MacDonald will certainly not want to lay the most promising scheme for European peace which we have yet known on the altar of the British miners.