The least excusable of all strikes, since the nation went
to war, ended in the early part of the week by the return of the Clyde shipyard malcontents to work, as a result of the Government ultimatum, published last Saturday, that the men of military age who refused to return to their well-paid labour would be called to the Colours forthwith. Government and Admiralty announcements summarized impartially the counts in the strikers crime against the State. They had themselves referred their claim to arbitration on September 11th, and had been told on September 18th that it would be heard on September 25th ; last April they had solemnly pledged themselves not to stop work pending arbitration ; their breach of obligation had been disavowed by their accredited officials ; and it was a vital blow struck at the State, both as war-maker and as food-supplier. We need not discuss the merits of the claim that the least competent and laziest shipyard worker should be guaranteed £5 a week. The strike may have been partly due to" Bolshevism," but it was mainly a result of the lack of such firmness In dealing with similar revolts as was sufficient to end this one.
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