27 NOVEMBER 1971, Page 37

Peter Hain Fund

Sir: Lord Avebury and Mr Nadir Dinshaw appeal (November 13) for contributions to the Peter Hain Fund on the ground that Mr HaM's activities in the 'Stop the '70 Tour' were a great triumph for nonracialism. They do not, however, point out that Mr Hain deliberately employed the threat of violence to stop activity which was, in itself, lawful. This is the technique of totalitarian movements, both of the right and of the left, and is abhorrent to many people whose objection to apartheid is quite as strong as Mr Hain's.

It is important that Mr Hain be given a fair trial; but this does not mean that we should ignore his essentially anti-democratic beliefs and actions.

Gerald Bonner Department of Theology, Univercity of Durban