THE BRITISH CRISIS
THE THREAT OF A STRIKE BY ENGLISH MINERS
The work of the Commission of Inquiry risks being in vain.

LONDON, July 18. No important change has occurred today in the mining crisis. The government has decided to mark time pending the report of the Commission of Inquiry.
The employers are determined to submit the entire question to this court for consideration; however, the miners' representatives still refuse to appear before it until the employers have granted certain purely formal demands. If the workers persist in this attitude, the conclusions of the Commission of Inquiry are likely to remain a dead letter.

The Hopes of the Miners
The General Secretary of the Miners' Federation has issued a statement stating that the miners are counting on the assistance of the entire trade union movement if an agreement is not reached before July 31, the date on which the strike is declared. On the other hand, in English trade union circles, the greatest hopes seem to be pinned on the upcoming deliberations of the International Federation of Miners, which is scheduled to meet in Paris on July 28.
Mr. Frank Hodges, secretary of this international federation, has expressed the opinion that a reduction in wages paid to English miners would be immediately followed by a reduction in the wages of French miners and miners of other nationalities, whose work is influenced by British coal exports.

The Strike in the Belgian Metal Industry
BRUSSELS, July 18. - Le Soir reports that, according to official information as of July 17, there are 75,172 metalworkers on strike throughout the country.
Le Soir states that it had been rumored that an agreement was about to be reached regarding the metalworkers' strike, but that, based on information obtained from authorized sources, this report is unfounded. There are currently no negotiations underway, and neither the employers' association nor the national joint committee have received any proposals.

The Mining Crisis in the Ruhr
BERLIN, July 18. The Vorwaerts (French Ministry of Labour) has learned that the mining crisis in the Ruhr has worsened. Further work cuts have been ordered, and more pits will be shut down starting next Monday.
At one company alone, 380 furnaces are out of operation.