26 JANUARY 1940, Page 18

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

[Correspondents are requested to keep their letters as brief as is reasonably possible. Signed letters are given a preference over those bearing a pseudonym, and the latter must be accompanied by the name and address of the author, which will be treated as confidential.—ED. The Spectator] THE UNIVERSITY LABOUR FEDERATION

Sut,—I entirely agree with your correspondent Mr. Christo- pher Hill that the law should not be invoked or any victimisa- tion practised against the members of the University Labour Federation. Let us rather cherish them and make their activi- ties widely known as examples of the liberty which is permitted under our free institutions.

But it may, I think, be brought to their notice that their hope of continuing to enjoy this freedom depends entirely on other young men being willing to fight and die in its defence. If these other young men were content to say, " Hitler and Chamberlain made this war ; the peoples must end it," it is as certain as anything can be that Hitler would win it. If that happened, it is not very probable that the first classes which, according to another of your correspondents, the Communist young men have to their credit in the examination schools of their University, would procure them the indulgence of the conqueror.

Meanwhile, may it not sometimes occur to them to, ask what under Communist rule, as exemplified in the only country in which it has been established, would happen to them if they ventured to criticise the ruling dictator as under British institu- tions they are free to criticise Mr. Chamberlain?—Yours,

Warren End, Farnborough, Kent. J. A. SPENDER.