TNAG-0053-FCO40-89-Communist-activities-in-schools-1968 — Page 53

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4. 1 AM AFRAID THESE FEELINGS MAY BUILD UP TO SERICUS LEVELS IF

MANY MORE SCHOOLS HAVE TO BE REGISTERED.

5. MOST OF THE 20,000 ODD CHILDREN GOING TO BOTH OLD AND NEW

COMMUNIST SCHOOLS ARE FROM COMMUNIST OF COMMUNIST-EMPLOYED

FAMILIES, AND ARE IN CONSEQUENCE A MORE OR LESS CAPTIVE CLIENTELE.

THERE ARE THOUGHT TO BE SOME 60,000 MORE CHILDREN IN THIS CATEGORY

NOT YET IN SCHOOL. IT IS LARGELY INEFFECTIVE, THEREFORE, TO TRY TC

CHECK THE EXPANSION BY OPENING OUR CWN SCHOOLS IN COMPETITION IN

THE AREAS MAINLY AFFECTED: MOREOVER PROPER SCHOOLS IN APPROPRA TE

AREAS TAKE TIMF TO BUILD AND ORGANISE, WHEREAS COMMUNIST SCHOOLS

CAN USUALLY OPEN AT FAIFLY SHORT NOTICE IN RENTED PREMISES, THE

FACILITIES NEEDED FOR THE TYPE OF EDUCATION' THEY OFFER BEING

MINIMAL. NEVERTHELESS, I AM OF COURSE PURSUING THE POSSIBILITY OF

OFFERING ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES.

6. OUR ABILITY TO INHIBIT THE EXPANSION OF COMMUNIST

SCHCOLS COVERTLY REMAINS VERY LIMITED BUT THE POSSIBILITIES

ARE CONSTANTLY UNDER REVIEW, WITH VERY MINOR SUCCESS IN ONE OR TWO

INSTANCES.

7. THE PURPOSE OF THIS TELEGRAM, THEREFORE, IS TO WARN THAT BEFORE

VERY LONG I MAY POSSIBLY BE OBLIGED TO TAKE MORE OVERT AND FAIRLY

DIRECT ACTION, PERHAPS AT SHORT NOTICE (AND IF I CAN FIND SUITABLE

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/MEANS) TO CURB