HOME TRUTHS IN THE ‘NEWS WHEN IT BECAME known that the Moscow trade union newspaper Trud (Labor), which is already publishing New Times, was preparing to launch yet an- other English langauge periodi- cal, it was obvious that the prob- ‘lem of conveying the Soviet peo- ple’s point of view on _ world events to the English-speaking peoples was going to be approach- ed from a new angle. And that is how it has turned out. News, which describes it- self as “a fortnightly searchlight on world events,” is something new. It is new, not on account of its glossy cover and its high trans- ‘ation standard—for which, doubt- less, thanks are due to the editor- in-chief, the Shakespearean scho- lar Mikhail Morozov—but because of the clarity with which, it states editorial policy. This policy is summed up in the words: : : “Understanding between the Peoples of the Soviet Union and . the Anglo-Saxon world.” The policy is not new. It has always been Soviet policy that mations can cooperate in peace, no matter what their political structures or social systems may be. But it is a new thing that an organization as powerful as the Soviet trade unions should have . launched a review intended speci- fically to give articulation to that _ Policy. ' It ‘gives, /28 the editorial says, a truthful exposition of issues _ vexing relations between states and counteracts the vicious war propaganda disseminated by many periodicals and the radio in the West. ~~ The Editorial says: ~ “We do not believe that war is inevitable. We are firmly convinced that peaceful inter- . -- national cooperations is poss- ible and, indeed, essential] for the tranquility and security of the peoples of the world.” TET TT McINTOSH'S TRANSFER 523 West 7th Cen Mee Me en ne FA. 9782 = Baggage, Furniture Moving Crating, ete, Minn ne itt PICK UP & DELIVERY ‘ « : UUM TTT TEU CMM eee tt tt att tt tt ih "The ~ Unio ) > Whet—he tried to sell you « Sot thet > didn't a? Change your otere, my ben ‘q end wy THE HUB the SHORT of it is... % The HUB has sold service for over 50 years. Journal aims at understanding of Anglo-Saxon, Soviet peoples This conviction that there are no serious grounds for a clash between the national interests of the Soviet Union and those’ of Britain or the United States runs like a thread through the first issue of the review. * “Even ill-wishers of the So- viet [Union admit that it needs ' peace, wants peace and is striy- ing for peace,” the editors write, They declare that the develop- ment of trade and other economic relations with the Soviet Union and the Peoples’ Democracies of United Labor Choir to offer new score. AN AMBITIOUS program for the tall and winter season is being planned by the new United Labor Choir of Van- couver which is taking oy er - and broadening the field occu- pied for the past two years by the Labor Youth Choir. Chief offering of the United Labor Choir will be “The Cana- dian Legend,” and_ ori musical score written by Hedy Lourie, talented young Vancou- ver musician, to an outline Prepared by Kay Rankin. Those interested in joining the choir are asked to note that it meets Tuesday each week at 8. p.m. in the lower hall of the > Russian Peopie’s Home, 600 Campbell Avenue. CUTE Tt Eastern Europe. would bring — Angl@®Saxon countries obvious advantages. “The sole desire of the citi- zens of Moscow and of Warsaw or Prague, is that the govern- ments in London and Washing- ton return to the path of friendly relations, of normal business, economic and cultural intercourse,” : * * * AN OUTSTANDING contribu- tion to the first issue is a remark- able survey of Anglo-Russian re- lations past and present by the famous Soviet historian and academician Eugene Tarle. He says: “The fact remains that there is no European great power with whom Russia has fought less often than with Britain, and none with whom Britain has fought less often than with Russia. Far more frequently have the two powers entered into close military and diplo- Matic agreements and assisted each other against a common enemy. oa “Every time the interests of the two countries clashed, men LONG and > n-Made Men‘s Wear % d extended friendly were found at the British helm of state who were able to swing over the rudder in time and steer clear of the vortex.” He adds: : “Why is it that British gov- ernments in the past were al- ways able to find peaceful solu- tions for the serious conflicts that constantly arose between them and the diplbmats of Tsarist Russia, many of whom > yielded nothing to the British in imperialist: proclivities, yet the British government of to- day demonstratively proclaims its readiness to take an active part in any attack the trans- atlantic power may decide to launch against the Soviet Union whenever it considers it oppor- tune and convenient? * “Why is it that Conservative statesment like Sir Robert Peel, Lord Derby and Lord Salisbury, ‘who had quarrelled with Rus- sia over very serious differ- ences affecting the interests of the two countries, were nevtr- theless able to bridle their be- ligerent passions and: refrain from such savage and grossly ' provocative utterances as we are every now and again hear- / ing from Labor ministers to- day? ~ “After. all, the’ Soviet Union © has no designs on a single foot of British émpire, or on the possessions of her allies, or in general on ‘any foreign terri- tory, whether in Europe, Asia, or any other part of the WORMS a : re - if there was even in modern history a ‘saturated state,” that state is the Soviet — Union as it exists today. A ‘saturated state’ was Bismarck’s term for a country all of whose requirements were already sat- isfied or could be Satisfied with- in the foreseeable future with- out resort to arms.” Satisfaction to report that this When I showed this article to a Western diplomat his first reac- tion was to suggest that Tarle’s argument was solely for export. I wish I could have seen his face when in the next day’s’ Izvestia he found the whole ar- ticle reprinted in Russian. Nor is there any basis for the charge that the appeal for Anglo- — Soviet friendship is meant to drive a wedge between Britain and the USS. Beside Tarle’s article is an eloquent appeal by . _ former Ambassador Troyanovsky for Soviet-American friendship. Another contribution to this 32- Page journal is an article by Academician Landsberg, the well-known Soviet physicist, who discusses the fellowship of science and. rejects the view that science is the monopoly of any one na tion., He says: “Science . . . is by its very nature a collective pursuit. Close intercourse among scient- ists is vital for scientific pro- gress; all advances in science ‘have been the product of the collective effort of scientists of many different countries. .. .” Those familiar with recent So- viet publications will find other / exciting things in this journal. As a clear expression of the Soviet people’s will for under- standing and trade cooperation with the Anglo-Saxon world it deserves the support and study of all friends of peace. ' —RALPH PARKER Soviet harvester The Soviet corn harvester combine shown~here, Model KU-2, is 36 times more productive than harvesting by hand. ——— GUIDE TO GOOD READING Carters write impressions of visit to Soviet Union — WRITTEN IN the popular but authoritative style that made his Russia’s Secret Weapon a world- wide success several years ago, Dyson Carter and his wife Char- _lotte, last week published their latest book, We Saw Socialism. A review of the book will appear on this page in a later issue. The 176-page book, which comes as a result of a lengthy visit to the Soviet Union last year, is in 15 chapters and goes into many aspects of Soviet life investigat- ed by Mr. and Mrs. Carter. , The book is igenerously illustrated with many new photos. We Saw Socialism is available in Vancouver at the People’s Co- operative Bookstore, 387 West Pender. The price is 50 cents. ok x Kies THE SECOND appearance of Canadian Writing is a welcome addition to our increasing store of progressive writing. It is a issue is in many ways an advance over the first. There is a surer sense of direction, and a more conscious involvement with the vital issues of the day. The scope is wider, including criticism, re- views, and a radio play, as an ex- ample of the broadening range of interests of the writers who par- ticipate. The theme is clearly defined in the excellent opening editorial, — ‘and in the statement inside the cover, “The Group ... (is) there- fore bound to work together, to re-establish the traditions of hu- manism and realism in writing. : . . It has become the responsi- bility of writers to take -a stand for peace . . . we shall in every Way encourage the development of a specifically Canadian culture —a culture bilingual and bi-na- tional in character.” On the whole the attempt to embody these principles in the writing is successful. For one thing the magazine has little of the “arty” and the consciously * Obscure. Such tendencies remain where the main idea is unclear and the expression thus becomes blurred; or where the writer has been drawn into the dangerous pleasures of experiment in tech- nique at the expense of content. * * * ‘| This tendency is perhaps most ‘marked in tte poetry. Algoma: Helen Mine, while it has technical virtuosity, suffers from obscurity. The language is difficult and the idea embedded in the poem is neg- ative. It tay be a harsh land, ‘but to the miners it is not the iron hell J. W. Holland pictures, PACIFIC TRIBUNE — AUGUST 17, 1951 — PAGE 10 ~written nor would they like to be dé scribed in his terms. In Home Builders, the writer has become perhaps too involved in new word combinations like “roarumbles, so that one tends to lose sight of the aim of construction, the home. But Dolph Roedde has succeed- d in presenting some vivid an real images. Gay Armada is 2 very beautiful and moving poem. The writing is transparent, the language direct, and there is 2 quality of pure joy that is too rare in modern poetry. The two articles on French Can- Aadian Writing and Ti Coq are both first rate, and timely. We know too little about what is g0- ing on in French Canada and this establishes a bridge. I Must Not, the account of life in a Nazi concentration camp, is a direct expression of a personal experience, and makes a power- ful impression. Sometimes I Forget, is an ironical, skilfully. commentary Olle. anti- Semitism. Oh My Lovely Kimi, while it has*some excellent mat- erial is not sharply enough focuss- ed. ; o As an example of smooth and professional radio writing, The Great Humanitarian has merit, and the theme is good. Here too some of the force is lost, by, the very mastery of the accepted American radio jargon. The At- tacks on Our Minds on the other ‘hand is rather crudely written, and this makes ‘the excellent — material hard to get at. It is, nevertheless in keeping with the spirit of the magazine, and de- Serves its place as the final state- ment on intellectual integrity, human rights and peace. * * * MOST OF THE contributors to this magazine. are young writers, who, understandably are still in process of mastering their tech- nique. They have made a choice in favor of realism, and are ac- ‘tively fighting reaction, and the decadent philosophy of bourgeois. writers. The hold of the admired and accepted bouregois writer is Strong, however, as is also the temptation to fall into the cliches of successful magazine writing. The way to develop the kind of form worthy of the content chosen by this group is to stay close to the common idiom avoid- ing tricky and obscure language, and let the meaning be the guide and leader. From the progress made so far we are confident Canadian Writing is on the right track.—M.K. :