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BRITISH COLUMBIA’S PROGRESSIVE HOME NEWSPAPER =

FOR PEACE, PROGRESS AND DEMOCRACY

FULL Ne. 193.

VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1938

“CHAMBERLAIN MUS

Cry raised by anti-
fascist demonstrat-
ers in Whitehall as
people’s front sa-
lute greets cabinet
ministers.

20,000 IN

LONDON
PARADE

LONDON—Shouting
“Chamberlain must go” and
“Stand by Czechoslovakia,” a
crowd estimated at 20,000, giv-
ing the clenched fist salute of
the people’s front, demonstrat-
ed in Whitehall Thursday
against Prime Minister Cham-
berlain’s betrayal of the
Czechoslovak Republic.

Im all the principal cities of
Britain huge protest railies are be-
ing held as the storm of public re-
sentment against Chamberlain rises.

The National Council of Labar
has issued a manifesto declaring

that “British traditions of democ-
racy and justice have been dis-
honored.”

The manifesto stated that Hit
ler’s ambitions “do not stop short
at Czechoslovakia. His present tri-
umph will be a new starting point
for further warlike adventures.

‘"There is no longer a frontier in
Burope which is safe.”

Winston Churchill, who returned
from a conference in Paris on
Thursday, issued a statement de-
eclaring it was “necessary that the
mation should realize the magni-—
tude of the disaster into which we
are being led.”

We termed partition of Czecho-
slovakia “a complete surrender of
western democracies to the Nazi
threat of force.’

Such a collapse, he said, would
bring neither peace nor security to
Britain. On the contrary, it would
bring both France and Britain
“into a position of ever-increasing
weakness and danger.”

“The path to the Black Sea will
be laid wide open to triumphant
Wazism,”’ Churchill declared.

Anthony Eden’s warning that an
end must be made to a “continued
retreat’ before Nazi threats has
had wide repercussions in the Con-
servative party and revolt is grow-
ing among Chamberlain’s own fol-
lowers,

PRAGUE—General Jan Syrovy,
inspector-general of the Czecho-
slovak army, on Thursday headed

(Gontinued on page 6)
See CHAMBERLAIN

Gov't
Resigns

PREMIER MILAN HODZA

BANKS SEEK
MANAGER IN
VANCOUVER

Behind opposition of Ward
One Ratepayers’ Association to
the proposal of the Federated
Ratepayers to present a brief
to the city council condemning
the city manager plan is the
fact that George Buscombe, leading
member of Ward One Ratepayers,
and a small minority group are sup-
porting big business interests in
their campaign for a civic dictator—
ship.

At a meeting of the Federated
Ratepayers on Wednesday, Ward
Qne delegates failed in their at-
tempts to defeat a motion to op-
pose the city manager plan. Ward
Four delegates refused to vote, stat-
ing that they wished to discuss the
matter in their own association
first.

They were over-ruled, other dele-
gates voting emphatically for oppo-
sition to the city manager plan-

Dr. A. F. Barton, president of the
Federated Ratepayers, was em-
powered to present a brief setting
out ratepayers’ views at the special
meeting of the city council next
Tuesday.

Interviewed Thursday, Dr. Bar-
ton declared that it was in Ward
One that the city manager plan
was first mooted.

‘JT was aware at the beginning
of the year that such a plan would

(Gontinued on Page 5)
See BARTON

Committees Strive

For Drive

Record

, WILLIAM RAVENOR : ¢
South pears press supporters have promised to hand in
$121 to the Joint Press Drive Committee before Oct. 31, the

closing date.

Of this amount Victoria Road Committee has

pledged $28; Norquay, $18; Collingwood, $40; Nanaimo Park,

$25.

elected an executive committee,

A press conference representing these committees has

which will meet with drive

leaders of sub committees at 39th and Victoria this Sunday at

8 pm to plan final details.
Information from outside points
shows Nanaimo Committee is con-
fident that it can raise $100, in ad-
dition to many new subscriptions.
First committee to report from
the farming areas is Langley, which
has pledged $40. A like amount is
promised by Salmon Arm where a
committee under Mrs. B. O. Hooper
plans an intensive drive for sub-
scriptions and is organizing a dance
to boost the sustaining fund.
Vancouver Centre executive com-
mittee published the first issue of
its mimeographed weekly bulletin,

Press Drive News, and lists prizes
of books to be awarded this week.
Sub-committee attaining the high-
est percentage of objectives.

First prize winners eal receive
“What Are We to Do,’ by John
Strachey, while Dimitrov’s “United
Front” will be awarded the com-
mittee holding second place. Sub-
committee of the Hotel and Res-
faurant Employees’ Union, under
drive leader John Magnus, has
made its bid for first prize by turn-

(Gontinued on page 6)
See DRIVE

CHARGE!
STRIKER
BEATEN

BLUBBER BAY, BC, Sept.
22.—Provincial Police Con-
stable A. Williamson was ar-
rested this week, charged

with assault, “occasioning
bodily harm” and “inflicting

grievous bodily harm” on
two strikers.
The charges arose out of the

police attack on the picket line last
Saturday which, John Stanton, strik—
ers’ counsel, declared was celiber-
ately provoked.

“From information I have ob-
tained from the crew of the Che-
lohsin and private individuals,”
Stanton stated, “I believe the af-
fray, which resulted in the arrest
of 22 men, to have been deliber-
ately provoked by police.”

Stanton said that the union was
now considering laying charges
against Serst LT. D. Sutherland, in
command of the provincial police
detachment, in view of Premier
Pattullo’s refusal to authorize the
prebe. of police activities previously
promised by Attorney-General Gor-
don Wismer, now in Ottawa.

Bob Gardner, at present in hos-
pital with three broken ribs, was
arrested at his home at three o’clock
in the morning after police had un-
successfully attempted to arrest
him at his home without a war-
rant.

Promising Mrs. Gardiner they
would not harm him, police took

(Continued on page 5)
See BLUBBER BAY

STUDENTS PRESS
FOR LOWER FEES

The student council at the Uni-
versity of British Columbia, in an
effort to arrive at satisfactory
agreement with the board of gov-
ermors, has offered to compromise
on the question of fees for the pres-
ent session.

A statement released by the coun-
cil suggests “that fees be increased
$10 only and the board of goyv-
ernors request the government to
make a supplementary grant at the
fall session of the legislature to
eomplete the amount required for
the 1938-39 budget, meanwhile hold-
ing back fees until the legislature
has had time to act upon the re-
quest.”

The council states “from informa—
tion available, the increase received
from $10 raise of fees and additional
attendance would make the grant
necessary from the government a
very small one.

“Wo definite amount can be estab-
lished until registration figures are
available.*’

At a special meeting of the stu-
dent council held recently, the sug-
gestion of holding back fees until
the last day in hope of reduction by
the governors, received great ap-
plause.

Malcolm Brown, former literary
and science president of the coun-—
cil, however, questioned the advisa-
bility of such a course.

Bans Radio Speech
Before Seeing Script

TRAIL, BC, Sept. 22.— Radio
station CJAT, on the British Co-
lumbia network of the Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation, this
week banned a half-hour radio
speech to have been made by
Arthur Evans, Western Canada
organizer for the International
Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter
Workers, without even Beene the
script.

This same station, earlier this
year, refused to broadcast the
address of Stewart Smith, Tc-
ronto Communist alderman, over
CBR national hookup.

Fishermen’s Strike Ti
Entire Seine Fleet In Port

INFAMOUS

CHAMBERLAIN’S’

BETRAYAL

alternative to world war.

brought in the Soviet Union.

down.

worthless.

fice truth, national honor,

.)

HE greatest betrayal in histery is about to be consum-

mated; and to the shame and disgrace of the people of
Great Britain and Canada, the chief actor in the betrayal is
the prime minister of Great Britain, Neville Chamberlain.

The last democracy in central Europe is about to be de-
stroyed and fed to the fascist wolves. In face of the anger and
disgust of the democratic people of the whole world Cham-
berlain and his supporters and apologists are hard pressed for
a semblance of justification. Aware of the great public hatred
of war, with one accord they say that the betrayal is the only

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Germany, even
with Italy’s support, could and would not resort to arms to
dismember Czechoslovakia had France abided by her pledge
to come to its aid if attacked, for such action would have
May 21 proved that.

On that day Hitler made his greatest bluff. His army was
mobilized. But the firm declaration by Czechoslovakia that
it would resist with arms, and the prompt declaration by
France and the Soviet Union that they would honor their
pledges and fight, called Hitler’s bluff and he had to back

The betrayers say that the existence of what will be left
of Czechoslovakia will be safeguarded by an agreement with
Hitler. Even the Vancouver Sun, which defends the policy of
Chamberlain, scoffs at such assurance.
ler’s assurance worthless, no reliance whatever can be placed
on the promises of Chamberlain and his national government.
Did not the national government break its pledses when it
brought about an agreement with Hitler to rearm Germany?
Did it not break its agreements when Abyssinia was overrun,
when Spain was attacked and when Austria was swallowed
by fascism? The guarantee of the frontiers of what will be
left of Czechoslovakia by such pro-fascist political -criminals
and treaty breakers as Chamberlain and Hitler is utterly

Chamberlain and his treasonable kind are ready to sacri-
and even national existence, rather
than endanger their class interests. Like the most reactionary
section of finance capital in Italy and Germany, Chamberlain

And not only is Hit-

(Continued on page 2)

City Nazi

Jailed In Germany

Leader

Germany immediately.

A short time after receiving the
letter Latner sailed for Germany
and that was the last Vancouver
Saw of the tall, blond, bespectacled
INazi spy—or is ever likely to see.
For Herr Latner was met at Ham-
burg by two SS men, arrested and
placed behind the electrified wires
of a concentration camp.

Wow Captain Wehner, also an
important figure in the Nazi organ-
ization in Vancouver, has received
a similar letter instructing him to
return to Germany, but, Knowing
the fate of Latner, he is reported
to be wavering between fear of
what may happen if he disobeys
and what may happen if he does
go back.

, HAL GRIFFIN

One day in July this year H. Latner, leader of the Nazi party
in British Columbia and a paid Nazi agent in Vancouver, re-
ceived a letter bearing a German postmark. As a link in Herr
Goebbels’ world-wide network of Nazi agents and spies Latner
had been receiving many letters from Germany. But this par-
ticular letter contained instructions for Iatner to return to

Behind it all lies the story of
Wazi intrigue and espionage in
British Columbia, a story of cross
and double-cross which on more
than one occasion has necessitated
the personal attention of Rodde,
German consul at Winnipeg.

Under the leadership of Latner,
Wehner and Aveust Dressel, Van-
couver building contractor, the
Wazi party built an organization
in this city. When the aspiring
feuhrers were not quarrelling
among themselves they were black—
listing German-Canadian residents
into joining the Nazi party. Many
members of the large German-
Canadian settlement in South VYan-

(Continued on page 6)
See VANCOUVER NAZIS

GencralElection To Be Meld
In New Zealand October 15

WELLINGTON, NZ, Sept. 22-—
Amnouncement that general elec-
tions would be held on October i5
was made by Prime Minister
Michael Savage last Friday.

The Labor party has held office
Since the fall of 1935 when voters
swept Australian-born Michael
Savage and 52 Labor candidates
into office to form the first Labor

government in the dominion’s his-—
tory. Opposition parties obtained
only 37 seats in a House of 80.
During its three years of office
the government has initiated con-
siderable progressive legislation,
continually under fire from the re-
actionaries who are now uniting
their forces in an attempt to oust

CANNERS
PRICE I$
REFUSED

the Labor party.

Sixty-three seiners returned

from the fishing grounds on
Thursday and refused to op-
erate again until canners pay
more than the eight cents now
offered for dog salmon.

More than a thousand fish-
ermen from Seymour Inlet
south are tied up.

Fishermen are asking that
last year’s prices of 12 cents up-
ward on a sliding scale remain

effective. Operators claim they _

cannot afford to pay more than
8 cents.

Seinmers intend to ask the
fisheries department to close
Alert Bay sub-area for all fish-
ing rather than sell at such low
prices.

Districts 1 and 3 from Fraser
River to Seymour Inlet are now
closed to sockeye.

Gillmetters and trollers are
also asking for adjustment on
cohoe prices.

Fishermen on the west coast
of Vancouver Island are not af-
fected by the present strike.

Recent announcement that
war in the Orient has affected
markets is claimed by union
officials to be incorrect.

“As far as we can ascertain,
salteries are operating around
the same capacity as last year,”
declared Al Parkin, editor of
the Fisherman, on Thursday.

JEWELRY UNION
STAGING DRIVE

Launching a campaign to or-
ganize workers in the press metal
and button making industry here,
Goeal 42, International Jewelry
Workers’ Union has called a meet-
ing, open to all employees in the
industry, for this Sunday, Sept. 25,
at 8:30 pm, at Labor headquarters
on Beatty street.

Since September, 1937, the union
has been instrumental in obtaining
a wage increase of 10 to 25 per cent,
with a minimum wage set at 75
cents an hour.

Agreements to this effect are
held by the union, valid to Septem-
ber i939.

In addition, the union obtained
a clause in the 1937 Labor Act to
protect apprentices.

Attempts are now being made to
draw in platers, press metal, button
workers and watchmakers.

McKean To Speak
At Orange Hall

Fergus McKean, provincial sec-
retary of the Communist party,
will speal: on international develop-
ments at a meeting to be held under
Communist party auspices in the
Orange Hall, Gore at Hastings, this
Sunday at 8 pm.

Chairman will be Phil Gibbens,
Vancouver city committee secre-
tary of the Communist party.

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