WOMAN POLITICIAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 114, 17 May 1933, Page 7

WOMAN POLITICIAN.

Death of Lady Cynthia Mosley, Former M.P. SOCIALIST SOCIETY LADY. (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 16. The death has occurred of Lady Cynthia Mosley, wife of Sir Oswald Mosley, the British Fascist leader, and a daughter of the late Marquess Curzon of Keddleston. She passed away in the presence of her husband and relatives, following an operation for peritonitis on May 9, after an acute attack of appendicitis. Lady Cynthia Blanche Mosley, Socialist daughter of a peer, wife of a baronet and heir-presumptive to a barony, was born in August, 1898. Her father was the Marquess Curzon of Kedleeton, the distinguished statesman and Viceroy, of India, and her mother was a daughter of Levi Z. Leiter, the American millionaire, from whom, on her mother's death, she inherited a considerable sum.

In May, 1920, she married Oswald! Mosley, who two years before had entered Parliament as a Conservative, but who, in 1923, was returned as an Independent, and when the first Labour Government came into office in 1924 'declared himself to be a Socialist. Lady Cjpithia had already shown Socialist leanings, and had even attacked her father's policy. She remarked once that titles were "a bit of a joke," and that she was willing to drop hers and be known simply as "Mrs. Mxmley." Early in 1926 she had a dispute in the American Courts with her brother, Joseph Leiter, in regard to the trusteeship of the "Leiter millions"—the £0,000,000 accumulated by Levi Leiter by speculations in Chicago land. While in the United States she and her husband devoted much time to studying industrial conditions, visiting slums and factories. She was an eloquent and sympathetic speaker, but found the American workers puzzled and suspicious at the appearance of a wealthy and aristocratic Socialist. An address which she delivered in New York's East End to a gathering of factory workers, however, won them completely. On her return to England she became prominent in connection with the general strike in 1926.. Meanwhile she was gradually being ostracised by the social circle in which she had been born and brought up. Viscountess Astor, she once remarked, was one of the very few who remained friendly with her. In May. 1929, she was elected Labour M.P. for Stoke-on-Trent, with a majority of over 7000, but in the great National : landslide of October, 1931, both she and lier husband were unseated. They had entered the race with a great many candidates, and much campaigning for their newly-organised New Party, which did not gain a single seat. In the past year Sir Oswald has become associated with the British Fascists, paying a visit to Rome a week or two ago, and taking the salute at a Fascist parade. Lady Cynthia has not been mentioned as prominent in the Fascist movement.