17 JUNE 1955, Page 15

SIR,—Permitting himself, apparently, to ignore completely the vital role played

by railways both in war (as we have learnt for ourselves twice in a lifetime) and in peace (as is being brought home to us very forcibly at the present moment) the author of your leading article blithely writes '. . . railwaymen should waive their right to strike. If they refuse, well, we can learn to do without railways.'

May one be permitted to ask how he sug- gests we should do this—particularly at the very short notice that such circumstances would involve.—Yours faithfully,

J. P. BARDSLEY

Overseas Club, St. James's, SW I [This correspondence is referred to in the leading article on p. 757.—Editor, Spectator.]