* * This proposal is certainly different from, and in
the 'miners' point of view less satisfactory than, Mr. Churchill's proposal of September 8th. Mr. Churchill then proposed the laying down in the first place of nationally agreed principles. This was to be followed by district settle- ments in accordance with those principles, and finally by the sanction of the Central body for the district settlements. Mr. Baldwin in a letter to the miners explained that his new proposals were necessary since it was "not within the power of the Government" to bring about a three-party conference. It is, of course, true that no Government has any power to force unwilling persons into a conference room any more than it has power to force a miner to work. Nevertheless, we think that if Mr. Baldwin, in what we may call his early manner, 'had appealed on grounds of national interest to both sides to meet he would have had a very fair chance of success. Even if the Mining Association as such could not be raised from the dead representative mineoviners, under any other banner, would probably have been willing to respond to a very earnest and emphatic appeal from the Prime Minister. To assume that they would not is to assume that they are less patriotic than we believe them to be.
