~ Repeal Garson amendments,
demands rights conference

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2.

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Egypt demands control of the Suez Canal

Pollitt says no
people so lied
to as Egyptians

LONDON
The British government should
keep its oft-repeated promises to
bring the British occupation of
Egypt to an end. This is the
position taken here by Harry Pol-
litt, general secretary of the Brit-
ish Communist party.

Declaring that “no people in
the world have been systemati-
cally lied. to as have the Egyp-
tian people,” Pollitt traced the
pattern of British deception to
the convention for withdrawal of
British troops from Egypt signed
by Britain in 1897.

In 1946, Pollitt said, former
Prime Minister Attlee told the
‘House of Commons that the gov-
ernment had decided freely to
evacuate troops from Egypt, “but
they are still there and will re-
main there until the force of
British opinion at last ends all
the deceit of British statesmen

in their relations with the Egyp- !

tian people.”

TORONTO
A wire sent to External Affairs
Minister Lester B. Pearson - by
the LPP national executive calls
upon the St. Laurent government
“to reject any proposal that Can-
ada support. British and “U‘S:
armed intervention in the na-
tional affairs of the Egyptian
people.”

TORONTO

“Fight back and win’’ was the dominant theme of the 300 delegates attending the two-day sessions
of the second annual conference of the League for Democratic Rights held here last week. Delegates
representing a wide variety of Canadian public opinion, came from 10 LDR- branches, seven nationa
unions and 20 local unions in 21 cities and towns of seven provinces. Unions included the Unit
Electrical Workers, Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, United Garment Workers (AFL), International
Fur and Leather Workers Union, Shipyard General Workers Federation and the International Moulders

and Foundry Workers (AFL).

sented.

There was unanimous opinion
that the Garson amendments to
the Criminal Code should be re-
pealed, during the current ses-
sion of parliament because the
amendments “as they now stand,
strike a serious blow against the
freedom of all Canadians, by
creating a legal framework, with-
in which, fundamental freedoms
of opinion, speech and press are
drastically undermined.”

Delegates stressed the fact that
Canada was the only member of
the Commonwealth which had
amended its Criminal Code to
make it possible to charge citi-
zens with “treason” (and a pos-
sible death penalty) because of
expressed opinions, speeches, art-
icles, made or written in or out
of Canada, which may be critical
of or differ with government for-
eign policy.

Unanimously endorsed, the re-
solution calling for repeal of the
Garson amendments reminded
Canadians that the “lessons from
Nazi Germany are still fresh in
our minds” and stressed that we
are “determined such things shall
not happen here.”

The conference hailed the Sas-
katchewan CCF convention| this
year which condemned the Gar-
son amendments and went on re-
cord for a Bill of Rights for Can-
ada.

The Quebec Padlock Law, it
was decided, would be vigorously
fought and defeated. The .appli-
eation of the Padlock Law, it
was pointed out, was general and
a threat to all citizens in trade
unions, cultural and other organ-
izations.

Padiocking of the cultural and
social centre of the United Jew-
ish People’s Order was used as

Twenty-five cultural, youth and women’s organizations were TePIe

an example which “clearly illus- session that “without a doubt the
trates the danger of the Padlock Padlock Law is a dangerous can
Law to all democratic organiza- cer in Canada. It maintains par
tion and to all freedom-loving tial fascism in Quebec; and its
Canadians.” influence and example infect the

LDR executive-secretary T. C. entire Canadian scene. We me
Roberts warned in a keynote ad- of necessity fight to end the Pa
dress given the Saturday plenary lock Law.”

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EDITORIAL

The British elections

HURCHILL’S victory in the British general election last week
represents not only a severe blow to the forces of peace an

progress in Britain but a grave threat to the peace of the entire

world. - !

The Tories were enabled to stage’ their come-back because
Attlee, Morrison and the dominant right-wing leadership of the
Labor party abjectly surrendered the socialist program on whic!
they swept to power in 1945 for the cold war policiés of Tory

_ imperialism as enunciated by Churchill at Fulton, Miss., an
elaborated by American reaction in anti-popular, anti-Soviet
policies embracing the world. Had the right-wing Labor leaders
heeded the warning of the 1949 election and held out to the
people a perspective of peace and improving living standards
instead of a continued policy of rearmament for war and con-
sequent austerity, Churchill would not now head a Tory gov-
ernment. ;

Churchill’s victory will find its immediate expression in @
sharpening of the domestic issues and a quickening of the anti-
Soviet conspiracies at which the Tory leader is an old hand./
But the British people, and first, and foremost the British workers,
will not so easily be persuaded to accept Tory policies of re-
armament and austerity with a die-hard Tory imperialist an
no longer a “‘socialist’’ leader formulating the arguments.

The British people; and the peace-loving people of all
countries, will need to redouble their vigilance and stand together
in new unity to stay Churchill’s-hands. And the greatest assut~
ance of their success is the majority desire for true progressive
policies expressed in the anti-Tory vote last week.

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Pr a i evyat fv adv cfm my yo ga TS

HEAR THESE B.C. TRADE UNION DELEGATES

“WHAT WE SAW IN THE USSR’

- Pearl Wedro > Allister McLeod

Member, International Union of Fur &
Leather Workers

Member, International W oodworkers Member, International Union of Mine,
of America Mill & Smelter Workers .

CONCERT PROGRAM |

@ Ukrainian Canadian String Orchestra @ Russian Choir @ Ukrainian Canadian Dancers

: Grand Rally oe
EXHIBITION GARDENS |

Friday, November 9 - 8 p.m.

AUSPICES CANADIAN-SOVIET FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY

Pee ie it re et PICT ee ee ee eC nee ED IE

PRPeRTT MRT eT ee Ee eee eee eee

4

Ken Smith

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PACIFIC TRIBUNE — NOVEMBER 2, 1951 — PAGE 17 ;
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