SECRET
crowd control.
Up to time of despatch although some minor incidents have taken place, the curfew is effective.
5.
At 1700 hours today 148 persons had been arrested; four policemen and a number, not yet known, of rioters injured. This includes one man who was shot after assisting in throwing petrol over the members of a small police patrol. His condition is described as fair.
Details of arrests and sentences to date are:
Arrested
convicted
727,
403,
remanded
90,
awaiting trial
193,
acquitted
24
released without
charge
17.
6. Unions are obviously taking a more direct part in support of demonstrators. The action of the bus drivers in blocking the main roads at a peak period is one example. There have been reports of go-slow tactics and disruption of work at a major Government workshop. The use of children to swell crowds on a large scale is a new tactic and one which it is difficult to counter. It would appear that the local communist leadership has appreciated that a comparatively small number of demonstrators can, with the unwitting aid of onlookers, tie up large numbers of police and cause a dis-proportionate disruption of the city's life. There is no sign of activities of this sort abating.
(Passed as requested)
(Also passed to D.S.A.0. for Messrs. de la Mare,
Wilson and Bolland)
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D.I.O., J.I.R. Mr. de la Mare
Bolland
Mr.
Mr. Wilson
Mr.
Mr.
Denson
Foggon
Mr. Rodgers
Mr. D. Hawkins
Mr. C.P. Rawlings
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