The swiftness of the strike and the solidarity of the men shocked the government. By the next day, 30 August, 12,000 men were on strike, virtually the entire complement of men in the Metropolitan Force. The government deployed troops at key points across the capital in response and its priority was to end the strike. Prime Minister Lloyd George, who had been in France when the strike started, called a meeting on the 31st with the executive of NUPPO, and the strike was settled that same day. The terms of the settlement included an increase for all ranks of 13 shillings per week in pensionable pay, raising the minimum to 43 shillings [£2.15. The right to a pension was reduced from 30 years' service to 26 years' service, and widows were awarded a pension of 10 shillings A war bonus of 12 shillings [60p per week was granted, and a grant of 2 shillings and sixpence for each child of school age was given. Constable Thiel was reinstated.