The Prepara tory Examinat ion has been going on for six months-So f a r evidence seems to centre in the expression by the accused

of cer tain opinions concerning race relations. Whether these opinions were, in fact , expressed, it is not for us

to say. Nor do we necessarily agree with these opinions.

OUR SOLE CONCERN IS TO ENSURE THE PROPER DEFENCE OF PEOPLE THREATENED WITH PUNISHMENT FOR THEIR ALLEGED POLITICAL OPINIONS.

"A free country," said Mr. Adlai Stevenson, "is one in which it is safe to express unpopular opinions."

Will You Help Us to Defend

Freedom of Speech in South Africa?

EX-CHIEF ALBERT LUTHULI The Chairman of the Accused's condor-361 i-s/57-5 p»d» Committee.

C H R I S T I A N A C T I O N CHAIRMAN: THE REVEREND CANON L. JOHN COLLINS

T E L E P H O N E : C I T Y 6 8 6 9

SECRETARY: FREDA NUELL

2 A M E N C O U R T . L O N D O N . E . C . 4

X'-'- er -i r.' r.

ft All V" rx S3T CAIO. L« J01CO&LIBfl, OK . * rill >i C".h^TIAf. ACSI3E, G foCKRM&G TtvJ Atf&l I:' "0'OTU A1 aCA.

Christ Lar: Action Has aent a Ioiters payment oi .")) J or trie immediate relief of any dependants of the ov-'estod •3 out: Africans who arc ii special need.

0 ristian Action, In cooperation wit the ovorvrt i or Colonial freedom, is netting, up a special fund v- it t; the oeject oi. t rovidin legal assistance for those w n o require it and incite rial aid to their families ana dependants.

\.c ask the good offices of the press of the vorld, always alert in the cause or freedom, to convey our heartfelt reetlnrs and assurance oi' support to all in "o;;ti. Africa

who arc vork.ln. for freedom, especially In their present peril. I personally would like to send my affectionate '-reelin. s to rry friends in gaol: I know their courage, I know the** will endure* I am sure our cause will triumph.

The wholesale arrests of opt orients or aj art.he.1d in ' o-th Africa will come as a great shock to ..eople throughout liie v. or Id. i'hi s latest act ol" Mr. Strydom and his henchmen, rem iris cent of the hazi tyranny and the Keichstag aJ'ialr, is hut further evidence of police state conditions In r,outh Airica - the homes of the victims were invaded Dy the police earl?* in the morning: the policeman's knock sounds more oral no s at d awn.

Let no-one oe deceived Dy the sweopin* charge of treason against these men onu women, v.hose only crime is that ol op. osltion to racial intolerance. The ">i;p. region of Communism Act. the Hiotous Assemolies Act, ara a w' ole ran/re

of other legislation is "out a cover lor oppression.

What a refinement of cruelty that men v:ho call themselves Christians, and who try to justify their policies on Christian grounds, should choose the season of Christmas for such a crime.

I believe the sufferings ol' those arrested, and ^ their families and dependants, will Inspire and stimulate to keener action fa-s-onoppti ii: llili-i unbtftt-gy to remove every vestige of racial\discrimination not only in South Africa and etery Afrioan\territory but also here in Britain.

7Oil yooeoijop iu^G

A a m i QY OAmm u jona m i a s , OH ur csKismw Aonoo t f m mm;m w &wm tmtQ&

Christian Action haa aent a taken peymafc of £100 for tii© isxudlate relief of any depen&mts of the arrested South Africans Wx> are in special need*

Christian Action, in ©o-oper&tloa with the fcoveisenfc For Colonial Preedoca, ia setting up a special fund erita the object of providing legal assistance for those m o inquire it and material old to their foal lion and depend®, nte.

v-o aafe the good offices of the pross of the v,orMt cilcaya aiort in the caus© of freedca, to oonvey our heartfelt greetings and asauranee of support to all in south Africa ®ho are wording for freed©©, especially in their present peril* X personally would like to send up affectionate greetings to

friends in gaols I kzmt their ©oarage, I too© they will endure; I ©<a sure our cause t?ili ta?iuoph.

$h© tsholaa&i© arrests of opponents of apart held in South Africa v4.ll ccoe aa a great shook to people throughout the eorld. This latest act of fJr+ fttrydoo ami hia henehaen, reminiscent of the ?%si tyranny and the rteiehatsig affair, ia hut further evidence of police state conditions in touth Africa • the hooea of the victim «©r© invaded by the police early in the comings the polieesan*® knock sounds oore ooinoua at <3am.

Let no-one te deceived by the sleeping charge of treason against these oaa ana mien, chose only crico is that of opposition to racial intolerance* 2he expression of Coooimism •Act, the Kiotoua Assemblies fiot, and a whole range of other legislation is but a ©over for oppression.

<>hat a refiiHMsent of cruelty that «ho call thocsseivca Christians, and Who try to justify thoir policies on Christian grounds, should choose tfte season of Christian for such a oriae.

2 fceliev© the sufferings of tix>se arrested, ami of thair families and dependants, will inspire and atitsuiat© to Keener action all in this country too are concernea to muove evcrs? vestige of racial discrimination not only in «outh Africa and every African territory hut also her© in Britain*

COPY

The Editor, The Times. Sir,

The Defence and Aid Fund established by Christian Action has played a magnificent part in the task of relieving the hardship inflicted upon a growing number of people "by acts of the present government in South Africa.

The Treason Trials drag on interminably. We are glad to report that we in this country have raised approxim-ately half of the £100,000 that has so far been spent of the defence and maintenance of the accused, but we do hot know what we would have done without the most generous support of men and women in Britain.

Unhappily, indications $tre that the need for that support will grow, not diminish, as time goes on.

We seem in South Afrida to "be living through a period in which our rulers tend more and more to regard opposition to apartheid as treasonable. More and more people are being charged with offences of an anti-apartheid nature; &hdyths?ci! being charged more hastily, and pnnished more heavily. The need for adequate legal defence will, therefore, be even greater in the future than it is ifioday. Swift administrative action against African men and women (invariably of a kind which denies those affected any recourse whatsoever to a Court of Law) leaving families without means and children without care, is being resorted to more frequently.

Your readers may know, for example, that African women are now compelled to carry passes, euphemistically termed "reference books". Many South Africans fear that African women will not) be liable to an evil which has for so long afflicted African men, namely to be stopped in the streets, and to be hauled off to police stations, sometimes to be absent for many days. This is bad enough for men, but ijr is much more to be feared for wives and mothers. It is expected that many women will be involved, in such offences, and in demonstrations against the law.

The operation of the apartheid laws create almost daily new demands for the relief and rehabilitation of its

growing number of victims; demands that cainot, in the name of hndinary humanity, be denied.

For these reasons we call upon your readers to support the Defence and Aid Fund so that it may continue, in the future, to enlist the aid of British generosity for one of the most deserving causes to be found in the Western World today.

Yours faithfully,

+ JOOST CAPETOWN + AMBROSE JOHANNESBURG A.J. LUTULI G.M. NAIKER ALAN PA?ON LESLIE RUBIN

7 -'Jv

COj?Y Letter to the Times 14th January 1957

TRIALS IN SOUTH AFRICA To the Editor of The Times

Sir, We, as sponsors, would like to commend the fund established by Christian Action in connexion with the rccent arrests in South Africa. The purposes of this fund are (a) to provide for legal defence of the accused: (b) to give practical assistance to the dependents of those arrested, the majority of whom are Africans: and (c) to ensure, as far r as possible, that the conscience of the world is kept fully alive to jHI whrr is happening.

Christian Action is working in the closest touch with the committee responsible for a similar fund now being raised in South Africa, the trust ees of which are the Bishop of Johannesburg, Mr. Alan Paton, author of Cry the Beloved Country, the Hon. Frank Lucas, a former Judge, and Mrs Ellen Hellman of the Institute of Race Relations; and the distribution of money subscribed in Britain to the Christian Action fund will be effected through and in consultation with this committee.

The preliminary hearings, the preparationof the cases for the defence, and the actual trials will take, a long time and will probably drag out for not less than six months. This will invade great costs, despite the generosity of members of the South African Bar. For the Africans in particular it means probable unemployment and great hard-ship for their families. Before this trial is over a large amount of money will be required. At present Christian Action is aiming at a preliminary target of £10,000 as the contribution from Britain to the to+<L sum which will be required. Donations should be sent to the Si etary, 2, Amen Court, London, E.C.4-.

Yours faithfully, N. BENTWICH, LEONARD BIRMINGHAM, VIOLET BONIIAM CARTER, PHYLLIS BOTTOHE, FENNER BROCK?/AY, JAMES CALLAGHAN, FARINGDON, GERALD GARDINER, MAX GLUCKMAN, KENNETH G. GRUBB, HEMINGFORD, TREVOR IIUDDLESTON, C.R., BENN LEVY, ROSE MACAULAY, COMPTON MACKENZIE, NATHANIEL MICKLEM, PAKENHAM, WILLIAM PLOMER, RAYMOND RAYNES? C.R^RUSSELL, LESLIE SHEFFIELD, DAVID SHEPPARD, DONALD SOPER, G.A. SUTHERLAND.

914- His Majesty's Buildings, Sloff Street,

Johannesburg, 8th Jan.57.

Dear Gardiner,

I tried this morning to buy a copy of last Friday's London Times but they were all sold out. So I shall never know what it was you wrote to provoke such an outburst from our Minister of External Affairs Eric Louw. His reply was cabled and appeared fully in last night's "Star".. There was a leading article in tonight's "Star" on his letter - rather half hearted - an attack on him for irrelevancies, e.g. leaving the Commonwealth and his financial assistance to Britain, but no defence of you or Canon Collins. I've not seen the Afrikaans press but shall look at it; it should make good reading.

Tomorrow the Prep.Exam, resumes and goes on for a couple of months or so. As a result of the demonstrations last month they say there will be 500 police on duty and only 150 members of the public will be allowed into Court; that is both whites and non-whites. There will be some criticism about that no doubt. We shall not all be appearing at this hearing as there are no funds - these must be conserved for the trial and also of course to maintain the families. According to a report in tonight's paper 10 of the accused from Port Elizabeth have lost their jobs, including one man who had held the same post for 17 years. Other employers however are behaving very well and giving financial assistance.

I appeared in the Supreme Court this afternoon for three of the accused in an application to vary the conditions of Bail. They were all trade unionists and wanted permission to attend their union meetings and other meetings. This was refused but they were allowed to attend and address what were called "official" meetings - i.e. such as were attended also by officials of the Labour Dept., or the employers or Superintendents of Native Townships. The irony of it was that in two of the cases, the Minister of Justice last night banned them from attending any gatherings at all for 5 years. So the argument was rather academic. The ban was under the Riotous Assemblies Act and the Suppression of Communism Act. That is all so far re the Treason trials.

There is never a dearth of problems however. A boycott of the native buses from Alexandria Township has been organised since yesterday in protest against a rise of Id. in the fares. Result is about 10,000 natives walk or cycle to town every morning to work, j about 10 miles and back again at night. This is a difficult question which started during the War and no one really knows the

/ answer. Costs have gone up but the natives can't afford to pay. Part of the cost of apartheid I suppose.

I thought you might be interested to know these scraps of news, hence this letter. I hope you had a pleasant trip home and enjoyed your short stay here. We are all looking forward to seeing you again at the trial later in the year, if you can come.

With regards from my wife and myself Sincerely yours,

MALISLLE FESTENSTEIN.

(

Press Conference held by Christian Action at 2, Amen Court, London, E.C. 4., for Mrs. Mary-Louise Hooper, on Monday, June 3rd.

Mrs. Hooper, an American citizen, was arrested and Imprisoned in South Africa in March of this year by order of the Minister of Interior, Dr. Donges. No charge was preferred against her.

At 8.30 on Sunday morning, March 10th, detectives arrived and ordered her "Get dressed and come with us" — they were acting on instruction of a letter from the Minister.

In South Africa it is customary for arrests of this kind to be made during the week-ends. (The difficulties of contacting lawyers and of arranging for bail are greater than on week-days and the effect of an arrest can, therefore, be more intimidatingI)

Mrs. Hooper was taken to prison — still no charge was made against her, and none has been made since.

She was put into a Hard Labour cell — sharing this privilege with prostitutes etc I Later she was moved to the section of the

4 prison for those awaiting trial. There she shared a small cell with three other women — all three arrested on criminal charges, one of whom has since been convicted of murder. They were locked in the cell from 3.0 p.m. to 7.0 a.m., a bucket-pail in a corner of the cell being the only toilet accommodation!

Mrs. Hooper was kept in prison in such conditions for 5 days. Her lawyer contacted Dr. Donges but received no redress for his client. She was released from prison only after her lawyer had applied for a writ of Habeas Corpus and the Judge ruled that she should be freed immediately.

(The ruling for her release was based upon a legal technicality. This loophole has since been closed by a special Act rushed through Parliament by the Minister).

Mrs, Hooper visited South Africa on a holiday tour in 1955. She liked South Africa and decided to live there. Accordingly she

- returned to America and obtained a permanent residence visa and then went back to South Africa in September 1956 to reside.

Mrs. Hooper had made friends with Dr. Alan Paton and Chief Luthuli and others concerned about racial relations in South Africa, and became interested in the welfare of the Africans and worked voluntarily with the African Congress (Mrs. Hooper had previously worked with the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People in America).

Mrs. Hooper has left South Africa of her own free will rather than wait for Dr. Donges to deport her.

Mrs. Hooper has been acting on behalf of Christian Action in its Race Relations work in South Africa - particularly on behalf of the Christian Action Treason Trial Defence and Aid Fund.

The picture in year i- s-ae of NnypmhiP nh. showing a policeman swinging handcuffs.as he disperses African women outside a court in Johannesburg^ is a shocking revelation of the deteriorating situation in South Africa today. Some hundreds of African women hgvfii., i~nriT arrested in Johannes burg.^riru';- the last for

•Joh thG.l.p rv£i.ual roiTnT - uh nQJ.r rsj. •-HH v r n r p i c . ment to make women as well as men selves to all the indignities ind:.scrirninattqer and sometimes

resist4j«tE' uovcrn-submit them-

of the Pass Law system,including brutal manhandling by the nolice

;u20. Y-P ' •lin.wmnr'-iin ai'rcouod womon lnvr V'm. clfingJry ccr.iori3';r uod In v A. / U^^i^j

0 ononis I; .i.r.j pol j-OO-

M-I fi),vn-.ir Of tb?S£ h.i.vvAiCdi by 1" h o pol loo—in i '-y ; •• ".n

jrotur® r , cA+wiv^L u S j h U «-" Lydenburg in the -0 __ — Northern Transvaal oewib Z.outlT~7urrl"oan iSik' -

J 'iajat.' bur;" and—the r. w r- t^T'loas The enquiry

magistrate May for which

before the seven Africans list

ffl*

Lydenburg concerns the killings of more than 200 Africans (25 of them women) of the

Ba.jidi tribe in "ohe Sekhufc/auneland Seserve have been arrested. The riots preceeding the killings arose out of African opposition to the Bantu Authorities Act under which the Nationalist Government

r :J yK^ >erg

e;<an±na-is being Farmers

had imposed pro-government Bantu chiefs. The preparatory tion which has be-n going on intermittently since July held in a store occupied till recently by the L. denl Co-operation. The accused sit on low benches i" four rows, each with a number card around his or her neck. It has not been possible to find money for bail nor has anything but a token representaion by lawyers been possible.

to meet i becoming

s U l ^ J s f this situation -

the stock in It is

mass trial ment in its determination to implement its - "fhat Christian Action has decided request of the Bishop just racial policy in

in which^the technique of the trade ofybouth Africa^ govem-

policies of apartheid to respond to the urgent

of Johannesburg and other associates of a South Africa for financial aid. The terns

a ^ A . C*A(L

of reference for the Defenceand^Ald. Fund established to provide legal defence^ forthe accused^ irt'the' Treason Trial^and aid for tkqi-r dcr,cndairbb -eyjd^o be widened to include

s J p ^

Treason Trials all 11 ao this -ArtytS

ui'la-V •r cases where men and women arc

z±lTTsTat'rdn^ The Fund - with a new" target of 100,000 - ris„in future to be used to safeguard freedom and humarn _ignity i n " r i c a ^ and in particular (a) to provide means of legal aid and defence for the persons who are victims of unjust legislation or oppressive and arbitrary procedures; (b) to supiort, sustain and comfort their families; and (c) to help keep the conscience of the world alive to the issues at stake.

white humanity owes a debt: to black humanity and to those

whites in Southern African (for some whites are involved in the mass trials) who have, against great odds, helped black humanity; and what should we feel like if we refused to pay that debt?

Yours sincerely,

L. John Collins Chairman of Christian Action.

The Editor, The Economist.

Dear Sir,

The arrest and trial in South Africa of the 150 and more opponents of apartheid on charges of subversive activities against the safety of the State is already responsible for great hardships, particularly to the many Africans involved. For example, it is reported from Port Elizabeth that 10 of the accused from that city have lost their jobs, including one man who had held the same post for 17 years. But before the trial is over matters will get worse.

The preliminary hearings have been resumed and will probably continue, for a couple of months or so; then will follow the preparation of the cases for the defence and, after-wards, the trial itself - the whole process can hardly end for at least six months. But the counsel for the defence will not all be able to appear at the preliminary hearings because the funds available in the Defence Fund in South Africa, of which the Bishop of Johannesburg, Mr. Alan Paton, the Hon. Frank Lucas and Mrs. Ellen Hellman of the Insititute of Race Relations are Trustees, are insufficient and must be conserved for the trial itself and to maintain the hard pressed families.

Many persons here in Britain and elsewhere who are sensitive in face of tyranny and human suffering see in the South African Government's policy of apartheid a disregard for Christian and liberal principle in human relationship. Christian Action invites all such to give practical expression to their convictions by subscribing to the special Christian Action fund, whose purposes are (a) to-provide for legal defence of the accused; (b) to aid their families and dependants; and (c) to help ensure that the conscience of the v/orld is alive to the issues at stake. A very large amount of money will be required if the legal defence of the accused and the necessary aid to their families is to be adequately p provided for.

Christian Action is keeping in the closest touch with the Committee responsible for the Bishop of Johannesburg's Defence Fund in South Africa. Money subscribed in Britain to the Christian Action fund will be distributed through and in consultation with this Committee.

Please send your gift, made payable to Christian Action and earmarked for this special South African fund, to the Secretary, Christian Action, 2, Amen Court, London E.C. 4.

C H R I S T I A N A C T I O N a CHAIRMAN:

THE REVEREND CANON L. JOHN COLLINS

SECRETAR Y: FREDA NUELL

T E L E P H O N E : C I T Y 6 8 6 9 2 A M E N C O U R T . L O N D O N . E . C . 4

18th January 1957

Dear Terry,

Canon Collins is a little worried that I didn't perhaps give you enough stuff for the basis of our leaflet, and on further reflection v/e have come to the conclusion that perhaps it would be better if we did two leaflets. One, a fairly simple statement of the purposes of the fund, names of sponsors etc., and the other a more chatty do, with one or two stories and the like, rivinr a slightly more general picture of Christian Action's work in the fiace Relations field with special reference to the present need. I am, therefore, enclosing various other papers which I think you may find useful as a background.

Incidentally, Canon Collins is very anxious that I should tell you that the Movement for Colonial Freedom is not at all popular with the T.U.C., indeed, I rather gather that they are somewhat at loggerheads and any mention in our leaflet of the M.C.F. should be discreet if the leaflet is to be used, as we intend, among the trade unions. Canon Collins has had a very satisfactory talk with Mr. Bowers of the T.U.C., and I think there is every hope they may co-operate, but not through the Movement for Colonial Freedom! Nevertheless, of course the Movement for Colonial Freedom must figure in it because they are with us and they have quite a pull in the constituent labour partes

I hope all this is not too muddled and will give you something a little more to go on. I think, for example, some of the phrases used in Canon Collins' letters enclosed to the weeklies, may be of use.

f c ) UMhve V/Ji l<U< f o ^ z UW'UX- j f l o boJ^ ( CavO-1 , uc^i ,

Yours ever •O

1/ Terry Lancaster, Esq.,

\ \ C H R I S T I A N A C T I O N CHAIRMAN: THE REVEREND CANON L. JOHN COLLINS

SECRETAR Y: FREDA NUELL

T E L E P H O N E : C I T Y 6S69 2 A M E N C O U R T . L O N D O N . E . C . 4

Indicative of the worsening situation for the accused is the fact that even members of the professional classes, who up to the present have been able to meet their own personal expenses, have now to ask for help from the Defence and Aid Fund. For example, when recently the Preliminary Hearings were adjourned for a month and the accused allowed to return to their homes for the first time since Christman, everyone living outside Johannesburg had to ask for aid in order to pay their fares etc: the fund paid out over £1,000 for this purpose alone.

The list of 44 sponsors of this special appeal by Christian Action is an impressive one. Among the more recent additions to the list are: The Bishop of Chichester; Sir Maurice Bowra (Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, and formerly Vice-Chancellor); Sir Henry Willink (Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge) and Mr. James Griffiths (Deputy Leader and Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party).

The longer the South African Government prolongs this trial, with its cruel effect upon the 156 accused and their dependants, the greater may be the total of money finally needed.

"Hundreds of thousands of people see in Apartheid a shocking disregard for Christian and liberal principles in human relation-ships, but feel impotent. What can we do? they ask. Here then is an opportunity for doing something practical, immediate and of healing import.": this is the message of the Sponsors of the Fund to the people of Britain.

WRUER3 ISCLARATIDN ON RACE DX3CB3JCM3DN

Our declaration ia a simple one. It ia, in essence, that tho future of mankind muat never be distorted by the crusl irrelevance of racial discrimination.

It is of the nature of the Ten Commandments, the Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights, which should carry their authority wherever hunan beings live together.

Y/e believe that man is born free and that it is his inalienable ri^it to be treated as an equal by his brothers.

Religion and science alii® repudiate racial discrimination. The U.H.E.S.C.O. report of 1951 contains tliis clause on the conoept of colour: "None of the scientific evidence of the past 150 years provides any biological reason for limiting the principle of equality as applied to race."

As writers, wa can express ourselves truthfully only in a society where justice predominates over passion and the quality of a man's mind and character is put before the colour of his skin.

We look with horror on the injustices, violence and cruelty, no matter how pro voted, which we see directed today in all parts of the world against coloured people.

We believe this evil to be a relic of barbarism, and akin to the race-hatred of Hitler's maniacal reign# and as hunan beings we here re-dedicate ourselves to the fight against it.

TREASON ARRESTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

CHRISTIAN ACTION SPECIAL APPEAL

CHRISTIAN ACTION is raising a special fund in connection with the arrests of 153 persons (European and Non-European), on charges of high treason, in South Africa. The main purposes of the fund are:

(a) to provide for legal defence for the accused; (b) to give practical assistance to the dependents

of those arrested, the majority of whom are Africans;

(c) >nS' e, as far as possible, that the conscience of the world is kept fully to what is happening.

SPONSORS of the Appeal include

Professor Noman Bentwich Lady Violet Bonbam Carter Fenner Brockway Lord Faringdon Professor Max Gluckman Jo Grimond Lord Hemingford Benn Levy Lord Lucan Sir Compton Mackenzie The Reverend Dr. N. Micklem William Plcmer Earl Russell The Reverend David Sheppard George A. Sutherland John Tilney Harold Wilson

The Bishop of Birmingham Phyllis Bottome James Callaghan Gerald Gardiner Victor Gollancz Sir Kenneth Grubb Father Huddleston, C.R. David Low Rose Macaulay The Bishop of Manchester John Neville Father Raymond Havreo, C.R, The Bishop of Sheffield The Reverend Dr. Donald

Sopor The Reverend Dr. Leslie

Weatherhead

The Fund has the full support of the Movement for Colonial Freedom and other interested bodies.

DONATIONS ARE URGENTLY NEEDED: please send to The Secretary, Christian Action, 2, Amen Court, London, E.C.4.

CHAIRMAN: THE REVEREND CANON L. JOHN COLLINS

T E L E P H O N E : C I T Y 6 8 6 9 J

C H R I S T I A N A C T I O N SECRETAR Y:

FREDA NUELL 2 A M E N C O U R T . L O N D O N . E . C . 4

The Editor, The Times.

Sir, We, as sponsors, would like to commend the Fund

established b? Christian Action in connection with the recent arrests in South Africa. The purposes of this fund are (a) to provide for legal defence for the accused; (b) to give practical assistance to the dependants of those arrested, the majority of whom are Africans; and (c) to ensure, as far as possible that the conscience of the world is kept fully alive to what is happening.

.»

Christian Action is working in the closest touch with the Committee responsible for a similar fund now being raised in South Africa, (the .trustees of which are the Bishop of Johannesburg, Mr. Alan Paton, author of "Cry the Beloved Country", the Hon. Frank Lucas, a former Judge, and Mrs. Ellen Hellman of the Institute of Race' Relations ), and the distribution of money subscribed in Britain to the Christian Action fund will be effected through and in consultation with this committee.

The preliminary hearings, the preparation of the cases for the defence, and the actual trials will take a long time and will probably drag out for not less than six months. This will involve great costs, despite the generosity of members of the South African Bar. For the Africans in particular it means probable unemployment and groat hardship for their families. Before this trial is over a largo amount of money will be required. At present Christian Action is aiming at a preliminary target of £10,000 as the contribution from Britain to the total sum which will be required. Donations should be sent to the Secretary, 2, Amen Court, London, E.C.4.

Yours faithfully,

CITY 6869 2, Amen Court, London, E.C. 4.

CHRISTIAN ACTION

TREASON ARRESTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Special Appeal

Canon L. John Collins issued the following statement today on behalf of Christian Action:

The response so far to the appeal for the special fund established by Christian Action with the support of the Movement for Colonial Freedom, is encouraging.

The fund has already passed the .£2,000 mark towards the target of £10,000.

Reports from South Africa show that the need for money is urgent. Those responsible for raising a similar fund there emphasise that the process of the trial will probably last for many months; costs for defence will be extremely heavy, despite the generosity of members of the South African Bar; and hard pressed families and dependants of the accused (particularly the African families and dependants) will need considerable help.

It is reported, for example, that 10 of those arrested in Port Elizabeth have lost their jobs, including one man who had held the same post for 17 year3.

Also, counsel for defence will not all be able to appear at the Preliminary Hearings as funds in the Defence Fund are insufficient; and such as there are need to be conserved for the trial itself and to maintain the hard pressed families.

Among the accused 3 trade unionists sought permission of the Supreme Court to alter the conditions of( trial'' in order to attend their union meetings. This was refused; but they were given permission to attend only "official" meetings, that is, such as were also to be attended by officials of the Labour Department or the Employers or Superintendents of the Native Townships. But even this concession is largely of academic interest only as Mr. Swart, the Minister of Justice, promptly banned 2 of the men concerned from attending any gatherings at all for 5 years I

Sponsors of the Christian Action appeal added recently bring the total number of sponsors to 33; they are: •

Mr. Joseph C-rimond, M.P., Lord Lucan, Mr. Harold Wilson M.P., The Bishop of Manchester, Mr. John Neville and the Reverend Dr. Leslie Weatherhead.

The objects of the fund are:

a) to provide for legal defence for the 150 and more accused. b) to aid their families and dependants. c) to help ensure that the conscience of the world is alive

to the issues at stake.

Donations to the Secretary, Christian Action, 2, Amen Court, London, E.C. 4.

CHRISTIAN ACTION SOUTH AFRICA TREASON ARRESTS FUND

[Sponsors of the Fund: Professor Norman Bcntwich, T h e Bishop of Birmingham, Lady Violet Bonham Carter, Phyllis Bottomc, Fenner Brockway, James Callaghan, Lord Faringdon, Gerald Gardiner, Professor Max Gluck-man, Victor Gollancz, Jo Grimond, Sir Kenneth Grubb, Lord Hcmingford, Fr. Huddleston, Benn Levy, David Low, Earl of Lucan, Rose Macaulay, Sir Compton Mackenzie, The Bishop of Manchester, Robert Mcnncll, The Reverend Dr. Nathaniel Micklcm, John Neville, Lord Pakcnham, William Ploincr, Fr. Raymond Rayncs, Earl Russell, The Bishop of Sheffield, The Reverend David Shcppard, The Reverend Dr. Donald Soper, George A. Sutherland, John Tilncy.)

The Fund is established for the following purposes: (a) to provide for legal defence of the accused; (b) to give practical assistance to the dependants of those arrested, the majority of whom arc Africans; and (c) to ensure, as far as possible, that the conscience of the world is kept fully alive to what is happening.

T h e Movement for Colonial Freedom and other interested bodies are co-opcrating in the raising of this fund.

N A M E A M O U N T S I G N A T U R E £ s d

Total

This Collecting List is Issued to of List No. Date

C H R I S T I A N A C T I O N CHAIRMAN: THE REVEREND CANON L. JOHN COLLINS

T E L E P H O N E : C I T Y 6 8 6 9

SECRETAR Y: FREDA NUELL

2 A M E N C O U R T . L O N D O N . E . C . 4

23rd January, 1957.

I am delighted to be able to tell you that we have had a most encouraging response to our letter to The Times, published last week, commending the Christian Action special appeal in connection with the South African treason arrests. The fund now stands at over £3,000.

We are now proposing to follow the same pattern for other papers, including The Manchester Guardian, Tho Observer, The Spectator, The New Statesman, The Church Times and the Times Literary Supplement, I very much hope that we shall get as kindly support from our sponsors for these letters as we had for The Times letter.

I think it best that the letters for The Manchester Guardian and The Observer should be signed by as many of the sponsors as possible: for the rest I am suggesting a limited and picked sponsorship.

I enclose copies of the letters for which I would much like your signature: if, as I hope, you are in agreement with these, I would be immensely grateful if you could sign each one and return them to me in the enclosed envelope - if possible by return of post.

Co l^-1 / j i ^ £ r U j L s > 2J •

(jbuU^s -ycJtjTe&fufL \U^<>)

•S . t e c ^ r s — / f y !

Canon L.. John Collins, Chairman of Christian Action, has today issued tho following statement

on tho ending of the Treason Trial.

The dismissal of the case against the accused in the Treason Trial is a great victory against Apartheid. It is also a great victory for the rule of Law and a tribute to the judiciary in a country where prejudice so frequently triumphs~over human rights.

The Defence and Aid Fund was started under the initiative of Christian Action on the day the news broke of the original treason arrests in December 1956. All those who have contributed to it will share with me in a sense of deep satisfaction at the outcome of this marathon legal battle. The Fund has sent more than £80,000. to South Africa for the Treason Trial defence and for the sustenance of the accused and their families. I have had a telegram from the released defendants expressing their thanks for what has been done for them*

But our satisfaction must not allow us to rest on our laurels. We should be encouraged by the knowledge that victories against. Apartheid are possible - encouraged to go on fighting it„ There is much more to be done. The re-leased Treason Trialists must now be rehabilitated; there are still people on trial in the aftermath of Sharpeville and Langa; some of the victims of the shootings are still in hospital; others - or the dependants of the dead - are seeking compensation, which the Government will not give as of right; refugees must be cared for. Above all, we must not suppose the South African. Government will take this de-feat lying down. Indeed, it may be expected that they will react strongly, even viciously, to the court ruling in favour of those who have striven against Apartheid.

The Defence and Aid Fund needs £2 00,000 this year. We are appealing for thanks offerings to enable us to carry . on our work®

Bishop Ambrose Reeves has to-day Issued, the following statement:

,Macaulay 3852 3, Wilberforce House, 15, North Side,

\ Clapham Common, London, S.W. 4.

\

As Chairman of the Trustees of the Treason Trial Defence

Fund I am over joy^d^ by the news. Without the magnificent

support of many people both in South Africa and overseas it would

have been impossible to provide financial aid for the families

of those on trial and secure the best legal defence possible for

the accused. In particular, we owe a great debt to all those

who have subscribed to the Fund through Christian Action, which

has kept this Trial continually before the public. Not that

the task is completed. Those who have been on trial for over

four years have to be rehabilitated and others arrested for

political offences still need help. I only hope that those

who have helped so wonderfully in the past will go on supporting

the Defence and Aid Fund so that justice may continue to bo

done,

Ambrose Reeves

(Bishop of Johannesburg)

29th March, 1961,

/

FOR

MERCYS

SATURDAY, 13 APRIL, 1957

For mercy's sake WITHOUT wishing to com-

ment on the substance oi the inquiry into the treason charges—this would be m a n i -fes t ly improper — we feel t ha t in the name of justice and humanity the general public

. should give sympathet ic heed to the plea on behalf of the "Treason Trials Defence Fund."

The circumstances of the inquiry are unique in South Africa. I t seems probable tha t the proceedings, begun last December, will continue for a considerable time. No fewer than 156 persons are involved, all of them, it is stated, of more or less humble means. During the hearings, concentrated in Johannesburg for the conveni-

SAKE ence of, the prosecution, many of the persons concerned are compelled to live away f rom their homes.

Though they are out on bail, they are unable to pursue their ordinary occupations, and the maintenance of themselves and their families is thus seriously jeopordized. . .

Whatever the outcome of the inquiry, the public conscience cannot be satisfied to allow any undue hardships to be borne while the process of justice takes i ts course. B e -sides the humani tar ian aspects, the legal costs of the defence in a case like this must run to a very large figure. So i m -por tan t are the issues a t stake, for the community as well as for the individual, t h a t the defence should not be h a n d i -capped in any way by financial or other difficulties.

Quotation from MANCHESTER GUARDIAN legal correspondent:-

"A trial of moral strength and endurance for accused, who represent the Africans struggle for political and social equality." Quotation from THE TIMES:-"In a very real senge the accused in this mass Treason Trial include a large number of the political opposition in South Africa. £his is a rather shocking suggestion to a South African, for he is accustomed to thinking of the United Party as the Opposition...."

Quotations from GOLDEN CITY POST:-"...some of the suspects suffered humiliation and indignities which police said were unavoidable. At Marshall Square, a White Woman was stripped to the skin by a wardress in search of incriminating documents. In .jail professors and lawyers rubbed their learned shoulders with shabby, ill-washed thugs unconnected with the case.'1

"'Each time I had to leave my children,' commented Dr. Arthur letele, •there was a lump in my throat.'" "Mr. Patrick Moaloa, of Sophiatown, had worked for four and a half years with PUTCO when he was fired. He is one of the 91 accused, has a wife and children. Henry Shabalala, employed as a clerk for six years, was also fired. John Nkadimeng went hunting for jobs during recesses, but employers fought shy of a man whose recommendations were an astute mind as a former trade unionist. Billy Nair, of Durban, whose wife is in England, got help from his mother and stepfather until his stepfather died. Now Billy sells newspapers during the adjournments. He, too was a secretary of a number of trade unions and had to resign during the preparatory examination.

People who care about the emotional stability of young kids will remember with uneasiness how a six-year-old kid, Shawn Slovo, had to answer reporters at the Slovo1s deserted house: 'Mummie has gone to jail. • "

Collection: 1956 Treason Trial Collection number: AD1812

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