Anti-racist campaigns in Smethwick and Birmingham

This file primarily contains papers relating to the Indian Workers Association's campaign against the policies and actions of some Smethwick Conservatives, including the parliamentary candidate, Peter Griffiths, in agitating against immigration and increasing racial tension in the area. There are also papers relating to Indian Workers Association protests against the operation of 'colour bars' and racial discrimination in public houses and other businesses, and particularly in the allocation of housing. Papers comprise correspondence; statements; and draft articles, some of which do not directly relate to conditions in Smethwick.

/1 copy letter from A. S. Rai, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association to the High Commissioner of India, London, expressing concern at reports he has received from the secretary of the Birmingham branch of the Association about racial problems in Birmingham, particularly in Smethwick, and the danger of racist attacks on black and Asian people living in the area, 26 July 1961. Copies were also sent to the Home Ministry, the Mayor of Smethwick, and the Birmingham branch of the Indian Workers Association

/2 copy letter from A. S. Rai, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association to the High Commissioner of India, India House, London, discussing reports from the Birmingham branch of the organisation about the risk of racial violence in Smethwick, in the context of threats made by 'racialist elements in the area', and stating that although the local authorities of Smethwick are aware of the danger, the High Commissioner should bring this issue to the notice of the Home Secretary, 31 July 1961. Copies were also sent to the Home Secretary, the Mayor of Smethwick and the Birmingham branch of the Indian Workers Association

/3 partial statement issued by the Indian Workers Association condemning the attitude of the Birmingham Immigration Control Association and its Smethwick branch

/4 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association, to Peter Griffiths, Leader of the Conservative Party on Smethwick Council, challenging his views on the causes of unemployment in Smethwick, and accusing him and his party of trying to make immigrants a scapegoat by stirring up racial discrimination in the area. The letter challenges Griffiths to a public debate on the issue, 11 April 1963

/5-/7 correspondence between Jagmohan Joshi, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association, Denis Howell, MP for Birmingham Small Heath, and E. H. Bennitt, Controller, Eastern Division of Mitchell & Butlers Ltd brewery, concerning an incident of racial discrimination experienced by Joshi and other Indian Workers Association members at a public house in Small Heath June-July 1964

/8 draft statement handwritten by Jagmohan Joshi opposing the moves of the Smethwick Conservatives to increase racial tension by blaming black and Asian people for the shortage of housing and the continued existence of slums in the Smethwick area and by circulating a petition relating to these issues, 25 June 1964

/9 copy letter from Jagmohan Joshi to the editor of an unidentified newspaper asking for an appeal to be published on behalf of the Indian Workers Association asking for people to protest against race being used as a political weapon by the Conservative party, particularly in Smethwick and Birmingham, 1964

/10 copy letter from Jagmohan Joshi to the editor of 'The Birmingham Post' protesting at the omission of the Indian Workers Association statement made in reply to allegations made by Peter Griffiths on 'the racial question', 25 September 1964

/11 copy letter from Jagmohan Joshi to the High Commissioner [of India] discussing a statement issued by Peter Griffiths which Joshi considers to be inflammatory and likely to increase the risk of violence against black and Asian people living in Smethwick. Joshi urges the High Commissioner to protest to the British Government regarding the protection of Indian people living in British cities, 25 September 1964

/12 typescript article written for the 'Smethwick Telephone' weekly newspaper, in reply to three articles written on behalf of the Labour, Conservative and Liberal parties before the 1964 General Election. The article gives the immigrants point of view on immigration, and is likely to have been written by Jagmohan Joshi

/13 copy letter from Jagmohan Joshi to the Chief Constable, Smethwick Police Station, asking for an interview to discuss incidents involving violence against the Indian community, 7 December 1964

/14-/16 copy letter from Jagmohan Joshi to the editor of an unidentified newspaper, enclosing a copy of an open letter addressed to all residents of Marshall Street in Smethwick, and asking for it to be published in the newspaper. The open letter urges the residents to reject the plan of the Smethwick Conservatives to acquire houses in Marshall Street to prevent them being occupied by black and Asian people, 16 December 1964. Attached to this correspondence are a set of notes in Joshi's handwriting on matters relating to Marshall Street

/17 leaflet issued by Smethwick Young Socialists containing a resolution to the General Management Committee of Smethwick Constituency Labour Party pledging to remove 'the temporary MP' [Peter Griffiths] from office and supporting the Labour party candidate Andrew Faulds. Andrew Faulds contested Smethwick at the 1966 General Election, so this leaflet is likely to date from between 1964 and 1966

/18 copy letter from C. E. Karunakarn to Jagmohan Joshi enclosing a statement giving details of an incident of racial discrimination experienced by the writer and Kulvir Singh and Sohan Singh, fellow members of the Indian Workers Association, at a public house in West Bromwich. Karunakarn expresses his reluctance to take the matter to the Race Relations Board, as it will mean approaching the West Midlands Conciliation Committee, chaired by Oscar Hahn, November 1966

/19-21 correspondence between John Lyttle, Chief Conciliation Officer, Race Relations Board, and Avtar Jouhl, concerning an incident of racial discrimination experienced by Jouhl and A. S. Azad at a public house in Smethwick, May-June 1967

/22 undated typescript statement signed by a group of Asian men living in Handsworth, protesting against racial discrimination and abuse experienced by them while using a public house in Handsworth, and requesting the Indian Workers Association and other local organisations to take this matter up with the breweries, police, local MPs and the print and broadcast media

/23 report by the Indian Workers Association on racial discrimination and the Race Relations Act, setting out details of some of the eleven complaints against unlawful racial discrimination brought by the Birmingham branch of the Indian Workers Association to the Race Relations Board. The majority of these complaints concern discrimination in public houses in the Smethwick and Birmingham area in 1966

/24 loose notes handwritten by Jagmohan Joshi protesting against the comments of Councillor Franklin, blaming black and Asian immigrants for poor standards of housing and health in Birmingham

/25 draft statement handwritten by Jagmohan Joshi concerning the amendment of the 1961 Housing Act regarding the right of Birmingham corporation to refuse to register a house, believing that the wording allows the authorities to prevent immigrant families from moving into different areas of the city and reinforce the impression that immigrant communities live in ghettoes

/26 typescript article by an unidentified writer on the 1966 General Election and the use of the issue of immigration in the campaign compared with that of the 1964 General Election

/27-/29 correspondence between Jagmohan Joshi and the Mayor of Birmingham and the Town Clerk, relating to the Birmingham Liaison Committee for Commonwealth Immigrants and the Indian Workers Association's refusal to be represented on a committee that is not independent of the national committee, November 1966

/30 annotated typescript notes including statistics on immigration in Birmingham, probably written after Enoch Powell's speeches on immigration in April 1968