BRITISH MINERS

Southland Times, Issue 20666, 23 April 1929, Page 7

BRITISH MINERS

ATTACK ON LEADER

MR COOK’S PRAISE OF THE PRINCE “TREACHERY TO THE CAUSE” (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.,) (Rec. 7 p.m.) London, April 22. The Communist Party is attacking Mr A. J. Cook, the British miners’ leader, owing to his praise of the Prince of Wales, and have telegraphed to him as follows: “The political bureau observes that your treachery to the workers’ cause and your identification with Mondism reached a further stage at Mansion Mouse banquet in your fawning adulation of a typical representative of the class which battens on the workers. Such nauseating slavishness will rouse nothing but disgust for you in the eyes of all honest workers. We challenge you to give the names of the Communists who were reduced to tears by the Prince’s appeal. This balderdash will deceive no one j we brand it as a contemptible lie. Australian Press Association.

Speaking at the Mansion House function, Mr Cook said: “We owe the Prince the greatest measure of thanks for his w-hole-hearted enthusiasm. He brought the Throne quite close to the populace. It is thanks to the Prince that I am able to come here without contaminating any one of you. His conduct and attitude have shown that all mankind have the great qualities in common. You, sir,’’ said Mr Cook, speaking directly across the table to the Prince, “have done a marvellous thing. Never was I so impressed as by your speech on Christmas night. I was with two Communist friends when your name was announced. They undoubtedly scoffed, but when you had finished there were tears in their eyes. They put their hands in their pockets and gave what they had.”