A salute—a goal wo momentous issues face all Canadians on this our 98th birthday asa nation; issues closely related and deeply affecting the future of our country and its bi- national people. The question of peace and war, and the unity of French and English-speaking Canada within a two-nation sovereign Canadian Confederation. In the life span of man 98-years is considered “a ripe old age”, with not too many birthdays left to look forward to. But for a young and vigorous country like Canada, it should be little more than the beginning of its v:rile “teen age’’-era. Yet, because of successiye Tory, Liberal and other monopoly-dominated governments which have ruled since Confederation of 1867, and in the process bartered away Canada’s independence, resources, peace, and the rights of French €anada for equality within Confederation, Cana- = are faced with this disturbing question on this natal ay. Shall we celebrate the Centennial of. Confederation two years hence as a united, independent and sovereign two-nation state — or shall we wind up Canada’s destiny as a supine pawn and satellite of U.S. imperialism, a spine- less accessory to its nuclear blackmail and its aggressive policies for world domination or nuclear destruction? These are momentous questions and Time will not wait indefinitely for the answers. In 1867 the Fathers of Confederation proclaimed our land and its people “a Dom- inion from Sea to Sea”, a proclamation which envisioned the sovereign independence of its people, French,and Eng- lish-speaking; which proclaimed their vigor and strength, their “rendezvous with destiny”. A vision only attainable by Canada taking its right- ful place in the world community of nations, as a powerful and unswerving champion of peace and the outlawing of war in all its hideous forms. And this only attainable by the unity and equality of French and English-speaking Canada within a united Canadian Confederation. Neither of these highly-desirable objectives can or will be easily attained. On the side of English-speaking Canada a greater measure of understanding of French-Canada pro- blems are essential, and for French-Canadians, probably a greater degree of tolerance towards the slow-comprehend- ing “melting pot” of English-speaking Canada. But one lesson stands out on this Canada Day above all else; attained they must be if we are to survive.as a sovereign bi-national country, shaping our own destiny, in- stead of having it raped and shaped for us in the thermo- nuclear back-rooms of the Pentagon madmen. Tom McEWEN “Bracero” is a Mexican tion of Chinese labor, on the working man, an unskilled grounds that there was no local laborer, imported annually in labor available, and anyway what his thousands bythebigmonopoly there was, what with trade union garden truck, soft and tree fruit rates of pay, etc. and etc., “we growers of Southern California farmers might as well go out of to do the hard back-breaking. business,” If that wasn’t their picking work, at “coolie labor” exact words, it was the general wage rates, intent behind their plea for the importation of Chinese labor During recent times, due to from Hong Kong and Taiwan, local labor demands for the “Well, it seems I’m not wanted in North Vietnam and you're not wanted in South Vietnam.” Learn from Korea J une 25 was the 15th anniversary of the outbreak of the ‘ Korean war, and June 27 the 12th anniversary of the truce. These historic dates should have some lessons for the U.S. warkawks in Vietnam. “I was the first U.S. army commander”, said U.S. Gen- eral Clark, “to sign a truce without a victory”. The people of Vietnam and the peace forces of the world will see to it he won’t be the last. In North Korea, to the shame of the UN flag, the U.S. threw everything they had in their invasion; napalm bombs, poison gas, germ warfare, millions of tons of hot steel. Then too they had: “allies”, including 29,066 from Canada, but it didn’t help. They couldn’t win a victory. Nor will they fare any better in Vietnam. Today in North Korea its people are building a peace- ful Socialist life. South Korea is an economic, political and moral shambles, its people destitute and its U.S.-promoted “government” held up by 60,000 U.S. troops— the price of being “saved” from Communism. labor it was pick canteloupes, * * “rattlesnakes or not, If they beefed it was back to Mexico” “Come and see for yourselves” pronto, — and foreign visitors to the Soviet Union are doing just that, With Bracero immigration ‘According to the Soviet News ended, the local workers got the Bulletin of June 7, during 1964 canteloupe picking jobs. If they “more than 300,000 tourists from could put in a straight 12-hour 81 states visited the Russian day in 120-degree heat, the local Federation last year, More than top picker could earn $25 aday, 400,000 tourists are expected to a figure considerably above what visit the Soviet Union this year, the Braceros were paid, Many foreign travellers want to : combine recuperation with treat- “But,” a canteloupe grower ments, Such tourists are given a loudly complains, “these damned 45 percent discount from the cost locals are afraidofrattlesnakes” of their trip, so. another “labor cost” is added to the consumer’s canteloupe—__, “hired workers who carry canes . | and precede the pickers, thereby Worth Quoting | During my lifetime | have dedicated my life to this struggle of the Africa” people. | have fought against while domination and | have fought agains! Black domination. | have cherished the ideal of a democratic and ives society in which all persons live! gether in harmony and with equal op” portunities. It is an ideal which | hopt ” to live for and to see realized. Bul My Lord, if needs be, it is an ideal f0! which I am prepared fo die. —Speech of Wilson Mkwayi, Executive Committee member of the South African Congress® Trade Unions, before the © passed sentence of 20-ye™ because of his fight agai” “apartheid” (race segreg From WFTU Trade Union Pres June, 1965. * The harsh, brutal rule-of-thumb American business management that if a computer does not make possible to sack about at least ! men it should not be installed. And they are doing just that: A : cording to Cassandra (London colymm ; ist) United Steel have sacked 10, of the ‘‘clerkly tribe” in the past ™ 4 years. A radio factory producing 1" sets a day with 200 workers, 9° §) employs two for the same oufput —PEOPLE’S VOICE, New Zealand, May 12, 65. * A worker on the job asked his mole “What's a cubic foot?” “I’m not suid | but I think you can get compo for! his mate said —AUSTRALIAN TRIBUNE, May 26, '65. * Our march towards doom recalls | | that of Japan’s in the 1930's. The! q Japan’s slogan was the “co-prospen! 4 sphere’’—and co-prosperity was !0" — whatever Japan said it was. Todo E we proclaim a “free world’? — 9" || free is to be whatever we say is aR —U.S. Far Eastern specialist owen 7 Lattimore on U.S. Vietnam — policy, NEW YORK TIMES, April 11, '65. “Last year the RussianFede!” — ation was visited by 28,0) motorists and this year 40,000 — them are expected, Scores? — pavilions with restaurants, cafer and filling stations are being bil to give them better service. ’ Seems like the “tourist trade Tl is becoming a rapidly Bron in international institution with some countries at least) som” thing more at the end of it im q just how many “tourist dolla” can be squeezed out ofthe trav” ling public. preventing sudden strikes by hid- den rattlers.” What if the Mexican Bracero Braceros’ jobs, the annual inflow of cheap Mexican labor to Cali- fornia has been shut off, The Bracero, like most working men who “live by the sweat of their brow,” didn’t and doesn’t want to work“ cheap,” but for him there was no choice; either accept what is offered, or back to the endless unemployment and poverty of his own land. Not so long ago there was quite a clamor among B,C, truck and fruit farmers for the importa- “Q my dear, wasn’t that canta= loupe we had for dessert just too lovely for words?” In the June 19 edition of the People’s World there’s a very short story that tells an awful lot about “lovely” canteloupes and less lovely cantaloupe pickers, It would appear that rattle- snakes have a penchant for cante= loupes and literally infest the fields where they grow in sunny California, With the Bracero got bit, who worries? Obviously local labor in the Californian cantaloupe fields with its trade union organization, has no in= tention of getting bit. From the price of Californian cantaloupes in B.C, it is also clear that neither the grower nor the mon- opoly packer has any intention of getting bit. So when we bite into that “just too lovely for words” cantaloupe, it is we who get bit along with the Bracero, Man that there California rattler has sure got a long strike reach, -countries, $7.00 one year. Authorized as second class M7! Editor — TOM McEWEN Assochate Editor — MAURICE RUSH: Circulation Manager — JERRY SHACK Published weekly at Ford Bldg., Mezzanine No. 3, 193 E. Hastings St. Vancouver 4, B.C. Phone MUtual 5-5288 Subscription Rates: 4 Canada, $5.00 one year. North and South America 4" Commonwealth countries, $6.00 one year. All other by the Post Office Department, Ottawa and for payment of postage in cash. ‘y a ; 4 July 2, 1965—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—Po9?