29 MAY 1920, Page 3

Mr. Clynes's warning against political strikes was opportune. A fortnight

ago some dockers refused to load a ship with munitions for Poland. Last Friday week the National Union of Railwaymen instructed its members not to handle " any material which is intended to assist Poland against the Russian people." The. Irish nudeontents took the hint. On Thursday week the Dublin dockers had refused to unload a cargo of munitions for the Army in Ireland. The ship was taken to Kingstown and unloaded into railway waggons by soldiers. The drivers then refused to work the train to Dublin and the South, and were supported by the Irish branch of the National Union of Railway- men, who threatened a strike if the drivers were dismissed. As we write on Thursday, Mr. J. R. Thomas and his executive have not decided whether to approve or condemn the section of their Irish members. It is clear, however, that the Government of Ireland cannot be controlled by the dockers and railwaymen of Dublin and Kingstown. We comment on the matter elsewhere.