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FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 1952

B.C. peace meet
will hear paper
on germ warfare

A paper on germ warfare will be one of several papers pre-
sented to thé Third British Columbia Peace Conference to be held
in Vancouver April 19 and 20, B.C. Peace Council announced this

week.

The paper on bacteriological weapons is being prepared by

Dr. F. A. Walton, of New West-

minster.

“We of the B.C. Peace Coun-
cil can not find words strong
enough with which to condemn
the’ perversion of science that
preparations for bacteriological
‘warfare demand,” states a coun-
cil press release.

“We call upon all nations, in-
cluding our own, to agree to the

absolute prohibition of all bac-

teriological weapons through in-
ternational agreement, just as
the use of poison gas has ‘been
outlawed. We propose on-the-
spot inspection in all countries
concerned on a continuous basis
to guard against infraction of
such an agreement. :

“Scientists especially must in-
Sist that they be regarded as
the ‘servants of mankind, of
peace and humanity, and refuse
to lend their services to the de-
velopments of germ warfare,
which is the absolute negation
of all science and of the process
of life itself.”

B.C. might have
had this order

Here’s an order that British
Columbia might have had—and
West Coast shipyard. workers
could have benefitted—if Ottawa
pursued a policy of trade with
all the world, instead of the pre-
sent “cold war’ line.

The Soviet Union has ordered*

from Dutch shipyards five 2,540-
ton refrigerator. ships under the
Dutch-Russian trade agreement
of 1948, according to the Fish-
ing News, a British periodical.

These . ships - are specially
equipped for the transportation
of fish. The order is valued at
afore than $10,500,000.

CONTINUED

WAR: PLANS

it, and added.that neither could
the’ army Ordnance depart-
ment.

It has been known for some
time that traitors, war crimin-
als and “refugees” from Eastern
Europe are to be formed into a
fighting force to serve under
British command in the event
of war with the Soviet Union.

The flash is expected to be
worn by these “liberators” to
identify them to civilians as
“friendly forces.” The traitors’
army will train with regular
army units of Eastern Com-
mand.

‘A military expert’s explana-
tion for the use of the letters
USSR instead of Russia is that
it.is part of the American and
British war psychology.” °

Object of the use of these
letters, he said, is to convince
the people of the Soviet Union
that after “liberation” there
will still be a Union of Socialist
republics governed “by good
Socialist leaders in place of Com-
munists.”

Manpower for the new army
will be recruited in the first in-
‘stance from displaced persons-
in West ‘Germany, France and
Britain. Later Russians “liber.
ated” by the Western armies
would tbe allowed to serve.

A large part of the money
needed to finance the venture
will be drawn from funds sup-
plied by the United States under
‘the Mutual Security Act,

Under this act, signed last
October, $100 million was allo-
cated to finance “selected per-
sons. residing in or escaping
‘from ‘the Soviet union,’

This striking drawing, especially prepared to advertise the 30
Years Anniversary Celebration of the Communist movement in
Canada, appeared on posters announcing the rally and attracted

wide attention throughout the city this week. At the meeting a.

mural now being prepared will provide a huge backdrop to the

platform.

~

Large attendance

expected at LPP
anniversary meet

. e
Vancouver citizens are expected to jam Pender Auditorium this
coming Sunday, April 6, at 8 p.m. for the anniversary celebration
of 30 years of the Communist movement in this country. They have
a treat in store for them, for Tom McEwen, the featured speaker,
has actively participated in the major events of those 30-years.

McEwen, editor of the Pacific
Tribune, has told some of the
stirring history of the past
three decades in his recently-
published book, He Wrote For
Us, the story of Bill Bennett,
socialist journalist. ~

/ On Sunday night McEwen will
| delve into his rich storehouse of

G. Campion, labor veteran,

dies distributing peace leaflets

George Campion had. often
‘told his friends that when he
died he hoped it would be “in
the ine of duty” to the working
_ people, whose cause he served
_ faithfully throughout his lite.

On Saturday last week, March
29, he died as he had wished, in
the line of duty, distributing
peace leaflets among his neigh-
‘ors in central Burnaby. Aware
‘that he suffered from a heart
condition brought about by his
veing gassed during the First
World War and yet knowing
‘that he would insist upon taking

part in the leaflet distribution

despite his 68 years, his fellow
workers had given him only a

= few leaflets to ‘hand around. It

was while he was distributing’
these that he was stricken and
died.
Long a member of the progres-
sive labor movement, Gearge
Coulter Campion was born at
Owen Sound, Ontario, on No-
vember 1, 1884. He became a
carpenter and for many years
was a member of the United
‘Brotherhood of ‘Carpenters and
Joiners. Although opposed to

“war, he nonetheless felt it his

duty to enlist during ‘the First
World War and he saw service

' Overseas with the Royal 'Cana-

dian Medical ‘Corps in 1915-18.

Following -his return from
Overseas he became interested

in the socialist movement and
eventually he joined the old
‘Communist Party of Canada. In
_ 1943 he became a foundation
member of the Labor-Progres-
sive party and at the time of
his death was treasurer of the
Central Burnalby LPP club.

A consistent worker in every
progressive cause, George Cam-
pion took a particular interest
in the labor press and his name
‘was always high on the list of
Pacific Tribune supporters.

Funeral services were held
Wednesday this week from
Royal Oak Funeral Chapel, with
interment following in the Field
of Honor, Mountain View Ceme-
tery. :

experiences and tell about such
events as the great stock market
crash of 1929, the fight of the
Communists for work and
wages during the Hungry Thir-
ties, the’arrest of the eight 'Com-
munist leaders and their long in-
carceration in Kingston 'Peni-
tentiary, the battles of the
Workers Unity League, the On-

To-Ottawa trek and the Regina |

bloodbath, the glorious record
of Canadian Communists in the
Mackenzie- Papineau Battalion
during the fight against fascism
in Spain, the role of Commun-
ists during the Second World
War, and the great post-war
struggle for peace which is be-

ing waged today by all progres-

sive forces.

. He will explain, too, the meafi-

ing of the new Labor-Progres-
Sive party program calling for
Canadian Independence and
People’s Democracy. (The pro-
gram, adopted by the LPP na-
tional committee in February,
1952, has just been published in
pamphlet form, at 10 cents a
copy, and will be sold at the
meeting),

In addition to McEwen's key-

note speech the rally will feature
a film and musical numbers.

CONTINUED

FARES —

Originally the BCER sought
to boost fares to 15 cents, but
was forced to reduce the
amount of increase asked for
as a result of opposition sparked
by the CORA. Under constant
fire from the public, the PUC
delayed its decision for someé
time, while the BCElectric held
up publication of its annual fin-
ancial statement. ;

Fully aware that introduction
of the new ‘fares will evoke a
further wave of public protest, .
the BCER sought this week to
enlist the support of its opera-
tors and conductors. A “chum-
my” letter written to these work-
ers March 28 by company offi-
cial I. W. Neil said, in part:

“Undoubtedly some persons
will express disapproval of the
increase approved lby the PUC,
but I believe most fair-minded
persons will realize its justifi-
cation. Our costs have been
rising and, while we have an
obligation to our patrons, we
also have an obligation to our
employees and to our share
holders. We-can only discharge -
these obligations if our rate of
return ‘keeps pace with operat-—
ing costs. To this extent the
increase is in the interest of all
concerned and therefore, will
have the support of all em-
ployees. I hope you will pre-
sent the company’s side of the
case to those who may hold
different views. May I say
quite sincerely’ that in this mat-
ter we have a common cause—
let us work together on it.”

Said CRA vice-president Effie —
Jones, who has fought the BCER —
fare hike all down the line:
“The people of Vancouver and
other cities affected by the fare
hoist have a common cause,
but not the one Neil speaks
about. All citizens, including
BCER operators and conductors,
should unite to force the cabinet .
to veto the increase and fire
members of the Public Utilities
‘Commission.” Ng

Victoria group

asks city action

» VICTORIA, B.C.

The City of Victoria has been
urged to appeal to the provincial
cabinet against the Public Utili- —
ties Commission’s decision to al-

low the BCER to increase bus

fares in the capital city to a
straight 10 cents. This proposal
Was made Monday this week to
‘Mayor Claude Harrison by a
delegation from the Cost of Liv-
ing ‘Committee. :

The delegation, consisting of —

_Mrs. May Campbell, chairman,

W. A. Scott, vice-chairman, and
Mrs. Mollie Ralston, secretary,
re-stated its oppostion to a fare
increase, expressed earlier in its
brief to the PUC. ;

‘Committee spokesmen recall:
ed the statement from their
brief that the public hearings
were “merely a formality pre
ceding the automatic granting ©
of increases as ‘asked for by the —
company,” and contended that
PUC approval of the present —
increase was further proof of
the accuracy of this charge.

The committee also expressed —
support for Mayor Harrison's —
suggestion that the BC Electric’s
present franchise’ be revoked
and the public allowed to vote
on nea tenders, Be

. PACIFIC TRIBUNE — APRIL 4, 1952 — PAGE 12