Italian Miners?
SIR,—Mr. Mitchell's article, admirably written as it is, does nothing to lessen the anxiety and impatience which grows -amongst millions of Britons regarding the coal situation. It is at last being widely realised that the need for an abundance of coal both for home use and for export is greater and more urgent than ever before ; the situation is almost " no coal = no food." The miners' " instincts and life environ- ment " are as out of date and blind to facts as the Coal Board's state- ment on man-power (quoted by Mr. Mitchell) is inept and misleading. Indeed this statement is the only excuse that can be found for the miners.
The instincts and life environment of the whole population of this country are against conscription, which nevertheless we have been forced by circumstances to adopt. The situation on the economic front is parallel and equally urgent, and it is indeed to be hoped that the miners will see the light and admit all the Italian labour required, before the rest of the country sees red and insists, as it can and must insist, on whatever means are necessary to secure a very large increase in the output of coal. Nobody, least of all a newly elected Govern- ment, wishes to see the issue forced, but the crisis is close. Nobody ?
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