I feel impelled to write to you in view of a grievous wrong that has been committed to myself and a friend in the Troubadour (Revolutionary cafe, London SW7) on Tuesday 28th Jan, 8.30pm.
Upon entering the Troubadour with its posters 'promoting equality, freedom, forbearance etc, and incidentally a retail outlet for The Black Dwarf, we proceeded to the Counter wiere we obtained a coffe and chocolate. We then sat down to read an article on "The Ulster Upsurge' in The Black Dwarf. A quarter of an hour later we decided to obtain a yoghourt and soup and bread. Shortly after consuming the latter one of the assistants at the counter enquired in an implying manner where we had obtained our copy of The Black Dwarf? I replied that I had obtained it previously "from this very place in the accompaniment of my girl friend. At this point the kitchen assistant sitting behind the counter burst forth into the discussion. My friend who had up to then remained quiet came to my assistance. as I seemed to have been found guilty until prover innocent, and he assured them that upon his word we had not obtained our copy of The Black Dwarf (1/6) from this establishment in an illegal manner. The reply he received to this was quote Your word is not worth a shit' before letting him finish his explanation. My friend being taken aback by such an intolerant attitude from a person in such an establishment told the gentleman concerned "in a temper', to mind his own business. The reaction of the 'gentleman' was immediate: he shouted Get out, and got himself involved in a row with my friend who pointed out to him that we were not exactly getting an impartial hearing. I myself explained to the other assistant that I had bought th Black Dwarf the previous evening at the Troubadour's special price of 1/-, but before I could go on I was again told to leave, and seeing that my words were falling on less than attentive ears we obeyed the marching orders and left with the abusive words of Powellites ringing in our ears.
I am writing this letter to try to bring to your attention that not all revolutionaries or revolutionary establishments, partly or fully promoting their cause are beyond rebuk themselves, especially when failing to tolerate or at least hear out, even fellow sympathisers. I can prove beyond doubt with witnesses that I lid not steal my copy of The Black Dwarf. As matter of fact the Jan 27th copy was obtained on the very day it came out, and on Tuesday I debated some of its articles with fellow students in Bromley Tech. College, Kent, before I went into the Troubadour in the evening,, but this is really incidental to the fact that people who should know better take such an attitude of intolerance towards their fellow men. However since my experience yesterday am beginning to have my doubts as to whether or not you would have the honesty (or guts) to publish such a letter of "self-criticism' of the Revolutionary movement.
Yours, B. Lindquist 4 Thurloe St SWE Student at Bromley Technical College, Bromley, Kent.