WHILE ALGERIANS | Pes STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE R WITH CH D - VOL. iy NO. 4 Phone MUtual 5-5288 >» Authorized as second class mail by - the Post Ottice Department, Ottawa. VANCOUVER, B.C. FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 1960 ROMP tactics hit by Saskatchewan CPC REGINA—RCMP harassment of a Communist Party leader during his recent visit to Regina has been protested by the CPC in letters to Prime Minister Diefenbaker and Saskatchewan Attorney-General R. A. Walker. W. CG. Beeching, CPC prov- incial leader, described this violation of civil rights in his letter to Diefenbaker: ‘William Kashtan, national executive member of the Com- munist Party of Canada, pres- ently on a national tour, ar- rived by plane in Regina on the morning of January 23. “We were met at the airport by the RCMP. They sat outside of our office during the day. They followed us about where- ver we went, and even waited for us in the restaurant when we went to eat. “Who instructed them to fol- low us? Your gOvernment. or the provincial government? Certainly it is a mockery of the Canadian Bill of Rights shortly to be considered in the House of Commons. “We ask you to investigate this violation of civil rights.” VLC drops $600 post formerly "held by Whalen First action ly the new Van- ‘couver’ Labor Council execu- tive last week was to abolish the $600 a month “special ad- -viser” post formerly held by Lloyd Whalen. The job -was- created -last summer when Whalen, form- er VLC’ president, failed to shave the presidency made a _ paid position. When - council _ rejected his executive’s re- commendation, the executive promptly hired . Whalen as “special adviser® at $125 a week. Last week Ed Sims was elec- ted VLC president, replacing Whalen, who did not run for the position. Paddy Neale was elected as secretary-treasurer, replacing E. A. Jamieson, who also did not stand for re-elec- tion. “We didn’t feel there was any need for a special adviser in the first place,” said Neale. ‘If the need for additional help arises, we will hire an as- sistant secretary, not a special adviser.” 10° IN A WAR AS” EHARDS REVOLT While the people of Algeria continue their six-year battle for independence, a “war within a war” loomed this week as dichard French colonialists in Algeria revolted against President Charles de Gaulle and set up barricades in Algiers and other cities. These éxtreme right-wing “colons” — who only 20 months ago played a key role in hoisting de Gaulle to power—are demanding that de Gaulle renege on_ his promise to give a degree of independence _to Algeria, and pursue a policy of crush- ing the independence strug- gle of the Algerian people. The Algerians, who are de- manding complete independ- ence and. have rejected de Gaulle’s “solution”. of the question, nevertheless are sup- porting de Gaulle in the pres- ent crisis precipitated by the neo-fascist ‘‘colons.” | : The “colons” are demanding that de Gaulle proclaim Al- geria to be ‘French forever.” They are hoping that the French army will side with them, force de Gaulle’s resig- nation and enable them to set up a military dictatorship pledged to continue the war against the Algerian people “until victory is won.” The French have been fight- ing (and losing) preCisely such a war for the past six years. The independence movement in Algeria has grown strong- er in the course of struggle. The rightist insurgents be- gan their revolt during a de- monstration of some 20,000 Europeans in Algiers that end- ed in a_ clash with security forces and 24. dead and 136 wounded. The “colons” erected barri- cades in the city, which were surrounded by French troops. On de Gaulle’s orders, these troops have as yet taken no action to dislodge the insurg- ents. An appeal by de Gaulle to the rebels to lay down their arms brought no response. In Paris, a split in the de Gaulle cabinet seems immin- ent. Friends of the “colons” are deserting de Gaulle and denouncing hig ‘‘self-determ- ination” plans for Algeria. A complete break between Paris and Algiers has not yet occurred. _But. with. armed French “colons” facing armed French troops across _barri- cades in Algiers, the situation is tense. Speak out for peace : (PC tells B.C govt “The B.C. legislature should speak out for peace, for disarmament, and demand of Ottawa action for conclusion > of an agreement to usher in a new era of trade and friendly relations vetween the peoples of the world,” said a Com- munist Party “open letter” sent this week to Premier W. A. C. Bennett and MLAs. “It has been said that peace is a federal matter,” the CPC letter continued. “Nothing could be further from the truth. If bombs fall, they won’t be concerned with federal-pro- vincial jurisdrction. By speak- ing out for B.C., the legislature can help in getting Ottawa to take a resolute stand for a reduction in arms spending.” The letter dealt at length with the crisis in municipal finances and the need to divert -war spending to people’s needs and tax relief. It called for the curbing of monopolies and public devel- opment of hydro power. Revision of B.C.’s handling of its forest resources was de- manded. The Communist Par- ty’s position is that no further forest management licenses should be granted; that present licenses should be cancelled as soon as possible and all forest lands brought back under pub- lic domain through setting up of a forest management plan around a system of large work- ing circles. The CPC letter supPorted trade union demands for the repeal of Bill 43 and amend- menis to the Workmen’s Com- pensation Act. It stressed the need for a substantial increase in welfare allowances and pen- sions. Noting that “unemployment has become a chronic and ac- ute problem of our economy,” the CPC letter urged B.C. to “prod Ottawa into extending unemployment insurance bene- fits to all jobless workers; to extend trade, particularly with People’s China; and to launch a program of public works to absorb today’s large body of unemployed.” Buck fo address city youth rally Tim Buck, CPC national leader, will speak at a youth rally Monday, February 1, in Hastings Auditorium at 8 p.m. The meeting is being organ- ized by the ‘Socialist Youth League, and adults in the la- bor and progressive move- ments are being urged to in- vite teenagers to attend, and to arrange transportation to and from the rally. Pritchett hits Alsbury’s stand on permanent hoard “Opposition is growing to Mayor Alsbury’s proposal to amend the city charter to make the administration board a permanent fixture,” Harold Pritchett, Communist Party city committee secretary, said this week. “Many citizens and organ- izations oppose placing the business of the city in the hands of an administration board, thus circumventing the elected city council,” he con- tinued. 5 - “Our party has insisted from the outset that the mayor and aldermen are the duly elected representatives of the people .{and should conduct the city’s business, rather than placing - this responsibility in the hands of high-salaried administra- tors.”