After the revolution
LETTERS
From: T. C. H. Retallack, Joan Henry, Jack Dixon, Larry Adler, H. D. Sills, S. G. Dixon, Sir George Young, 'Schoolmaster,' B. J. Hurren, Nicholas de Lange, John Barton-Armstrong, G. J. Chandler, Geoffrey Bing.
Sir: After your courageous stand on Biafra it is distressing to read (7 June) that you be- lieve that the 'only really valid charge against the nature of [General de Gaulle's] rule is his control and manipulation of French radio and television, as a counterbalance to the free press.'
In a world which has seemed to be descend- ing into violence and chaos nothing has been more distressing to one of your readers, at least, than the appalling barbarities committed by the French riot police, the CRS. These men have subjected not only the rioters themselves, but in many cases innocent bystanders including women and old people tc the most appallingly savage beatings. There is no need for me to give particulars; their activities have been exten- sively reported in the press. I also read (the Sunday Times, 2 June) that 'Many students of the Sorbonne have vanished . . . a list of 160 names has been posted on a notice board in the Sorbonne. It includes many girls' names.' The disappearance of people who have come under the attention of the CRS is no new thing. It happened at the time of the Algerian troubles. The techniques of these men must be well known to the French government.
I see no reason to disbelieve these reports. I have searched the press in vain for any denial by the French government. Two letters of pro- test sent by myself to the French Embassy in London have, up to the time of writing, been ignored.
However wrongheaded, however violent and however criminal the behaviour of some of the students may have been, nothing that they have done could possibly justify such treatment.
The year 1968 is a sad. violent and terrible one, and we have not yet seen the end of it. The leaders of supposedly civilised countries must lead the way back to sanity. It seems to me that the French government has robbed itself of all moral authority through the action of its agents. I find this very sad.
Mr Retallack is absolutely right to complain of the bruitality of the CRS on their initial clash with the Sorbonne students. The CRS, however, are a creation of the Fourth, pre-Gaullist, Republic : in our leading article we were dis- cussing the special characteristics of the present regime.—Editor, SPECTATOR.
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