WORLD REVOLUTION

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4329, 31 August 1937, Page 6

WORLD REVOLUTION

STUDENT’S LETTER COMMUNIST HOPES A letter alleged to have been written by a university student, a vicar’s son, to a leading aircraftsman in the R.A.P., and containing references to "revolution,” was read at Leeds Police Court recently, states the ‘Daily Telegraph.’ Ronald Hugh Stowell Phillips, 18, son of Rev. Robert Stowell Phillips, vicar of St. Peter’s., Hunslet Moor, Leeds, was charged with “endeavoring to ■seduce William Crabtree, a member of his Majesty’s Forces, from his duty of allegiance to his Majesty.” Mr E. C. Robey, prosecuting, said that on November 26 Crabtree was in the refreshment room at Leeds station, when Phillips entered into conversation with him. He questioned Crabtree about his duties and his pay, and he also asked him if letters received by the Air Force men were ever censored. “Crabtree decided to ‘pull the leg’ of the defendant,” said Mr Robey, “and told him that private letters were not censored. Phillips then said: ‘I am going to write to you, but if there is any chance of our letters being opened 1 shall got into trouble.’ ” Phillips and Crabtree exchanged names and addresses, and on December 4 Crabtree received a letter from Phillips. Crabtree at once handed it to his Wing Commander. The letter contained the following passages: “Don’t forget to burn this leter quickly. If you honestly feel properly revolutionary there are two really good lines for you to take. Get a permit from Madrid to fly over there on the sly some day, which I imagine you can do, and I fancy you could take some fellows with you. They need help.” “The other, and possibly better, alter-, native, is to keep very silent and to make close friends with those underneath you, so that when you come to the time when we can have revolution, net only you and your bomber can come to help us, but your whole squadron. “At all events, be patient. The time is getting very close when world war and this revolution would come. Meanwhile remember the names of the authors —J. Strachey, Karl Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Poult, Jackson, Gallacher, Pollitt —and try to get hold of the manifesto of the Communist Party. I cannot do much in letters, and 1 think it risky. “The workers of the world are uniting, and must quickly, Soviet Russit is a marvellous place and is getting a terrific army and air force. “I hope you will one day lead the men of Britain to victory. This isn’t twaddle either.” On January 22 Phillips was arrested, continued Mr Robey. The police found in his bedroom a number of documents and pamphlets clearly indicating his political views. Crabtree, who since November has been promoted corporal, gave evidence. Describing the interview with Phillips, he said Phillips asked him whether he could influence people working under him and also if he could procure any bombs. Crabtree said he told him that he could. Phillips then said: “It is a simple proposition to earn £2o' a week.” Crabtree asked, “Doing what?” and defendant replied, “I will notify you by letter.” Phillips then asked him if it were a simple matter to steal an aircraft, and he told him, “Yes, provided you get sufficient fuel.” Cross-examined by Mr Henry H. Hyams, Crabtree said that he told

Phillips many things that did not represent his true opinion. “When I saw the way Phillips’ mind was travelling I led him on a bit,” he added. Chief Detective-Inspector Craig said that when he arrested Phillips at Leeds University and read the warrant to him he made no reply. ■ On the way to the Town Hall, the inspector stated, Phillips said: “I admit having had a conversation with a member of his Majesty’s Forces, but I do not understand the word ‘malicious.’ ” The inspector said he believed that Phillips was a member of the Communist Youth League. Phillips was committed for trial at Leeds Assizes. Bail was renewed in his own recognisance of £lO and his father’s surety of £lO. p A TALL ORDER A hard-driving taxi driver ignored a red signal, .threatened the traffic policeman’s knees, missed a street island by a hair and grazed a bus, all in one dash. The policeman hailed him, then strolled over to the taxi, pulling a big handkerchief from his pocket en route. “Listen, cowboy!” he growled. “On he way back I’ll drop this and see if /ou can pick it up with yer teeth.”