TREASON ALLEGED IN JAMAICA

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29178, 12 April 1960, Page 17

TREASON ALLEGED IN JAMAICA

“Castro Involved In Plot

By African Church”

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) KINGSTON (Jamaica), April 11. The Cuban Prime Minister (Dr. Fidel Castro) appeared to have been involved in a plot by the African Reform Church of Jamaica to overthrow the Jamaican Government, the American Associated Press reported. When the leader of the church, Claudius Henry, and five of his followers were arrested yesterday, police found letters to Dr. Castro in his possession.

It was said that the "letters showed Henry may have been planning an attack on the House of Representatives.

An attack on white South Africans in Jamaica was also said to have been suggested. Henry and the others have been charged with treason. It is the first such charge to be brought against a British subject in Jamaica for more than 100 years. Twenty other persons have been arrested on other charges.

Police would not comment on the report that an attack had been planned on public buildings, but said there would be “startling revelations” at the trial.

They said they had seized six small bombs in a Kingston house. It was also reported that sticks of dynamite and scores of machetes had been found at the headquarters of the church.

The church was established two years ago with the declared object of enabling Jamaican negroes to return to the land of their fathers—Africa. The arrests followed two big raids by police and security men in which machetes sharpened on both sides like swords, shotguns, dynamite, detonators, revolvers and other small arms were found.

Henry, who is 57, set up his African Reformed Church about two years ago. He seeks to enable Jamaican negroes to return to Africa, but a “back-to-Africa” trek which he organised late last year ended in failure. A number of his followers were arrested in a recent raid on the headquarters of the church. Police said the headquarters was kept “like a trained army camp,” with men in uniforms and given ranks.

In peace-time, the maximum penalty for treason is life imprisonment. Henry and his followers are also charged with breaches of the Gunpowder Law.

Davis Cup Tie to Japan.—Japan, which yesterday qualified to meet the Philippines in the semi-finals, completed a 5-0 win against South Korea today in their Davis Cup eastern-zone first-round tie.— Tokyo. April 10.