18 SEPTEMBER 1964, Page 15

ILLEGAL ARRESTS

SIR,—Which direction was this car going in that Mr. Lodge reports heading towards the South African border after the blowing-up of Amnesty International's hostel? The hostel being just outside Francistownl the way to the Republic is some 150 miles long, by pretty dodgy road, and in any case the car Would have to go through Francistown (where cars are not uncommon) to get on to it.

I share Mr. Lodge's distaste for sabotage,' and I am just as much opposed to current South"African policy as he is. But the repetition of wild and silly rumours doesn't help his case.