4 MAY 1956, Page 17

CAPRICORN AFRICA SIR, — Comment on letters about the Capricorn Africa Society

is difficult because of the time which elapses before we in Africa can read them and in our turn write our comments.

I have not the honour of knowing Edward Carpenter, but I would like to assure him and your readers that your reference to the `Strydom-Collins axis' is a responsible and common-sense statement to us who live here. The Canon's recent criticisms of the Archbishop of Canterbury's consideited opinions of the African scene showed that the former's brief visit to South Africa had not given him time enough to evaluate the political scene as, say, Fr. Huddleston can. 1 would like to ask which Africans he means who are asserting just rights. The rank and file or a few power- hungry Congress types? Similarly I can assure your readers that Mr. Fox Pitt (whom I have the honour toknow) definitely refers to Con- gress when he says 'African political opinion in general; 'leaders of African political thought,' and 'trusted leaders of the Africans.' But he does not tell your readers that many of the chiefs (some very responsible ones) have no use for Congress, and the vast majority of Central Africans arc not politically conscious yet.,. They are often intimidated—yes, intimi- dated—by Congress in its efforts to defeat any moderate political development such as CAS, and in order to carry out strikes, boycotts, etc. Let this moderate and non-racial movement develop from within Africa and there will be hope for us Africans. black, white and brown, in the future to live together in harmony.— Yours faithfully,

Box 98, Luunshya, N. Rhodesia MONICA FISHER