• On Friday, July 24th, representatives of the Mining Association
and the Miners' Federation met again in the same room after a month's separation. All that happened on this occasion was that the . two sides expressed their willingness to meet in "open con- ference" on the following Wednesday 'under the Chairmanship of Mr. Bridgeman. Last Saturday the Special Committee of the Trades Union. Congress met representatives of the railway workers to discuss the attitude of the *unions towards the .handling of coal, partieulariy. imported coal, if there should be a stoppage. It was unanimously 'resolved that the - railway unions should refuse - to move any coal. It may be added here that on- Tuesday the Executive Committee of the International Miners'. Federation in Paris decided that in the event of a stoppage the miners. of the Continent should restrict production so as not to hamper the action of the British miners. The Conference also pledged itself to give the "maximum amount of assistance" to the British miners and to try to prevent the export of coal to Great Britain. This does not mean that the foreign miners have any intention of striking sympathetically. On the contrary, while refusing to send- coal here they would be free to work harder and seize our old Continental markets. . . * *
