* * * If the owners, as the men allege,
have tried to open up district negotiations as distinct from national negotia- tions they have been departing from their own undertak- ing sincerely to try to bring the Commissioners' scheme into operation. On Wednesday the Minister of Labour intervened in the dispute so far as to discuss this matter with the owners and immediately afterwards the Industrial Committee of the Trade Union Congress had an interview with the Prime Minister. If it were supposed, even unjustly, that the owners were after all trying to override the clear recommendation of the Report in favour of a national agreement much harm would be done. If there is any cause for genuine - differences in the interpretation of the Report the Com- missioners themselves should be asked at once to define their meaning. Events between now and the end of the month will determine whether the country is to be allowed to recover from its long depression. There will be no forgiveness for any party to the transac- tion which deprives the country of peace by perversely standing on a punctilio or by foolishly rejecting the substance in order to pursue a shadow.
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