Details
Targeted by:
HN45 'Dave Robertson' (1969 - 1971)
HN348 'Sandra Davies' (1971 - 1971)
At least spied on:
-
Overview

The Friends of China (FC) group was founded in 1964 by anti-revisionists who had left the Communist Party of Great Britain; it campaigned for the Communist Party of China. 

By the late 1960s FC had become a front group for the Revolutionary Marxist-Leninist League (RMLL), the Maoist group formed by Abhimanyu Manchanda. From 1971, the FC came under more intense SDS scrutiny as it targeted Manchanda, deploying officers HN45 ‘Dave Robertson’ and HN348 ‘Sandra Davies’ into the RMLL.

As well as SDS reporting, there is also a reference to them in a paper submitted to the secret Whitehall committee 'Communism at Home', which suggests the prganisation is under the influence of the Chinese communist party.

Sources:

Anti-Revisionism online.

Reports

CSV
Date
Originator
MPS-UCPI
Title
MI5
UCPI0000035236
MI5 paper ‘Subversion in the United Kingdom – Autumn 1967’ and note from the Secretary of the Official Committee on Communism (Home) (CAB 301-509)
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0730063
Report on Vietnam Solidarity Campaign and upcoming ‘Autumn Offensive’ demo, inc review of protest over previous decade and feared tactics
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0733934
Report on private meeting of the October 27 Committee for Solidarity with Vietnam, held at Union Tavern WC1 on 29 Sept 1968
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0730096
Weekly report by Dixon on preparations for Oct 1968 VSC ‘Autumn Offensive’ demo
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000026382
Report on developments among Maoist groups associated with 'Albert' Manchanda
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000014320
Report on the BVSF and Maoists trying to identify those elements which cause disruption on mass demos and are of interest in a public order context
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0736437
Report on a joint meeting of BVSF and Friends of China to discuss the 9th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, held at Union Tavern on 1 June 1969
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS_0736415
Report on meeting of the BVSF to pay tribute to Ho Chi Minh, held at at Portland Hall, Little Titchfield Street on 11 Sept 1969
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000011739
Report on a public meeting held by the Revolutionary Marxist-Leninist League and Friends of China to celebrate the 26th Anniversary of Socialist Albania, held at Camden studios NW1 on 19 Dec 1970 
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS_0747835
Special Branch Annual Report 1970
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000010567
Report on a meeting of the Revolutionary Marxist Leninist League, held at 58 Lisburne Rd NW3 on 20 Jan 1971 
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000011741
Report on an Extraordinary Meeting of the Revolutionary Marxist-Leninist League reducing Manchanda's role, held on 13 March 1971 at redacted private home address, inc 10 page 'Statement on the Crisis of RMLL' by Manchanda
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0739237
Report on personal details and political activities of Abhimanyu Manchanda and Diane Langford of the Revolutionary Marxist-Leninist League inc photo of Manchanda
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000026997
Report on meeting of Friends of China inc criticism of Women's Liberation Front's magazine, held at Diane Langford's home on 27 April 1971
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0728971
SDS Annual Report 1971, inc letter to Home Office seeking authorisation to continue
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS_0747786
Special Branch Annual Report 1971
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS_0728970
SDS Annual Report 1972, inc letter to Home Office seeking authorisation to continue
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS_0747796
Special Branch Annual Report 1972
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000014358
Report on personal details of a woman connected with the Marxist-Leninist Workers Association Women’s Caucus in response to a request from [redacted]