On Monday both Houses discussed the dispute. In answer to
Lord Balfour of Burleigh's plea for a return to the Royal Commission's Report, Lord Cecil spoke sympathetically of the general desire for a resumption of negotiations, and the Government's readiness to accept the Report as a basis. He reiterated that a new subsidy was out of the question and deprecated even a loan to the industry. In the House of Commons Mr. Lloyd. George dwelt upon the disastrous losses of the country, and urged peace along the lines of the proposals carried to the Government by the Industrial Christian Fellowship. The Prime Minister answered at length but with apparent weariness. He went over old ground and recounted the active steps that the Government is taking to implement the Report by legislation and enquiry. He reaffirmed his readiness to help the disputants to negotiate on the questions which it was for them alone to discuss, and he expressed his belief ,that there was now more willingness to negotiate.
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