BRITISH LABOUR PARTY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 130, 26 February 1925, Page 9

BRITISH LABOUR PARTY

RUPTURE THREATENED OVER ATTACK ON THE PRINCE

MACDONALD DENIES STATEMENT BY ' ’ KIRKWOOD

LACK OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN LEADER AND EXTREMISTS -

further evidence of the lack of understanding between Mr. MacDonald, the British Lab our leader, and some of the members of his party was given at a stormy meeting at which the attack in the House of Commons on the Prince of Wales was discussed? ’ A statement by Mr. Kirkwood that Mr. MacDonald presided at a meeting of the executive which asked him to raise the question in the House was vigorously denied by the latter.

St Telegraph.—Press Association. Copybight

(Rec. February 25, 8.15 p.m.) London, February 24. The Labour Party held a meeting to-dav which discussed Mr. Kirkwood’s outburst against the Prince of Wales. Mr. Kirkwood was present and explained that he was asked by the Parliamentary Labour Party executive to raise the Question. He added that. Mr.. MacDonald was chairman of the meeting which decided on such’ action. Mr. MacDonald- vigorously denied this statement. The official report of to-day’s meeting declares that Mr. Kirkwood’s state"ment was based on a misunderstanding. The incident therefore is closed.' Other reports state that Mr. Kirkwood and his Clydesiders were bluntly unrepentant,' and resented the attempt 'to pillorv them, but they and a few. English Labourites were in a hopeless trinority. It was stated that tire'mis-, understanding lav in -Mr. Kirkwood taking seriously an executive member s casual remark that’ he was the man to take uo the matter in the House. ’ The “Daily Chronicle’s” lobbyist savs: “To-dav’s stormy Labour meeting’shows that there is a growing: lack of understanding between Mr. MacDonald and his extreme elements. Mr./ t MacDonald has begun to realise that his leadership is impossible unless the ■ rank and file submit to discipline, but the. Scottish back-benchers refuse to accent anv dictation. They regard 1 their leader as the mere mouthpiece for their opinions.”—Aus.-N.Z.- Cable Assn.. ’■ ” •’/ ? IMr. D. Kirkwood I criticised in the House of Commons-the pavment of expenses of the Prince of Wales’s coming tour to South Africa and the Argentine. Later, Mr. L R- Clynes, in a speech

at Hornchurch, said that the attack on the Prince of Wales showed that Labour had the gift of taking the unpopular course without just cause or advantage to itself. Mr. Kitkwood, without consulting the partv, took his own line of action, and the members of the party, including the leader, then were asked whv they did not follow the mo ver 1 into the lobby. .This was a - oomic conception of discipline and loyalty.) , < •• • — - 1 CLYDESIDERS EMBITTERED WIDENING OF PARTY SPLIT , POSSIBLE p (Rec. February 25, 5.5 p.m.) London,’ February 24. The political correspondent of the “Evening News” says lively scenes marked the Parliamentary Labour Party’s private meeting, which was . ciowdad. Mr. Kirkwood vigorously and defiantlv reiterated that a member of the executive gave the impression that the partv would support his attack on the Prince’s four. The Clvdesiders unanimously supported Mr. Kirkwood, and refused to accent the dictation of the party leader upon what they consider vital principles.. „ The moderate members condemned Mr. Kirkwood’s criticisms of the Prince and caused an uproar. • Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, the chairman, had difficulty in restoring order. No resolution was passed, but • the Clvdesiders are embittered, and the widening of the party split is possible. —Sydney “Sun” Cable.