• The country had a few days' respite from Mr.
Cook's speeches here while he was in Berlin meeting the repre- sentatives of, it is reported, the Russian miners, i.e., not of the Soviet Government. Verbose declarations have . been issued, and the intention was evident to revive the so-called Anglo-Russian Committee. Behind the Conference there lurks, of course, the Russian antagonism to the Amsterdam International. As in the past the British representatives at Conferences with Russians seem to us either to be played with unwittingly or else to be willing to play into the hands of Moscow. No one supposes that the Russians care in their hearts about a British industrial dispute unless they can give it a political turn. It remains to be seen whether those Labour leaders who object to this will prevail over those few who agree with the aims of the Russians. Vorwarts made scathing comment on Russian trade unionism and on Moscow's efforts to interfere in the politics of other countries, and has since advised British miners to beware of Mr. Cook's policy.
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