Page Six

THE ADVOCATE

Press Drive

Plan

Campaign

For Publication
Of Bigger Paper

Next Friday, September 15,

the Advocate laumches its fail

drive for a $4,000 sustaining fund and for increased circulation
to make it the largest and most influential paper serving the
prosressive people of British Columbia.

Even now the Advocate has the largest circulation of any
progressive paper in the province, but that is not sufficient.
The Advocate can be made the vehicle for conveying news to
an even larger number of people to win them for peace and

progress.

Peggy Forkin, who leads the drive, says, “The drive to main-
tain and enlarge the Advocate is more important today than
at any time in its nearly five years of publication.

“Tn the present critical situation it is imperative now to build
the Advocate in order to mfluence the course of events that
fascism shall be thoroughly defeated and removed as a factor

in world affairs.”

Unlike former campaigns this one will be for the Advocate

only—enabling all efforts to be

concentrated on the one paper.

Already some committees have swung into action and sent
in pledges. What is your committee planning, and what support
can you as a reader give? Will you check on your subscription
and if it is about to expire, renew it?

Drive headquarters will be at Room 20, 163 West Hastings

Street, Vancouver.

Youth Council Here
Opposes Conscription

Opposing conscription of manpower ‘“inless Canadian ter-
ritory is subject to direct military attack,” Vancouver Youth
Council, in a statement issued by its executive this week, feels

that Canada should “assist the allies

ism and its aggressive policies” by placing all

in their fight against Hitler-
industrial and

agricultural resources at their disposal.

Tull text of the statement is aS” erties of the Canadian people.

£ollows:

“As it has often reiterated, the
Vancouver youth Council executive
condemns war as a means of
settling international disputes. in
the present situation, however, we
feel it to be the duty of the Ca-
nadian parliament to assist the al-
lies in their fight against Hitierism
and its aggressive policies.

“We believe that this country can
help most affectively by placing
her entire natural resources, both
apricultural and industrial, at the
disposal of the allies, and by mak-
ing the full development of these
resources the chief duty of her
manpower. This, of course, implies
a complete embargo on foods to |
enemy nations.

“Canada must also take meas-
ures to enlist sufficient men to
protect her own shores from at-
tack, and her vital zones from pos-
sible sabotage by alien enemies.

‘Volunteers should be permitted
to go overseas. but no pressure
should be exerted to compel them
to do so.

“Wre are emphatically opposed to
the conscription of man power un-
less Canadian territory is subjected
to direct military attack. We are
opposed to conscription on the fol-
lowing grounds:

‘4. Tt is morally wrong to compel
a man to sacrifice his life against
his will.

“3s  Gonscription would be a seri-
ous detriment to Canadian unity,
since many sections of the Cana-
Gian people, including the Prench-
Ganadians, are bitterly opposed to

it. To render her® most effective
service, Canada must remain
united.

“2 Gonscription would, by elim-
jnating a whole generation, create
qa serious dearth of future leader-
ship.

“Ty the present crisis, it is the
urgent duty of the Canadian par-

liament to preserve the civil lib-

The
Tight to freedom of spe@ch, freedom
of assembly and a free press is, in
our opinion, the best way to avoid
war hysteria and panic, and to
spare the nation the excesses as-
sociated with war. It is vital to
our nation that we maintain a level
head and cool judgment which can
only be achieved by 2 well-informed
public, as stressed by President
Roosevelt in his recent address to
the American people. We therefore
urge that the existing press and
radio censorship be limited to mat
ters of military significance only.
‘q@urther, since war is to be

waged against dictatorship we be-
lieve that no retrogressive steps
must be taken in the nation’s social
services, but that all gains made
thus far must be preserved.

“Hinally, since youth will play 2
decisive part in the immediate
future, its leaders should be con-
sulted on all possible occasions;
and when the question of peace
terms is again discussed, we urge
that young people be permitted a
full voice in the framing of these
terms, for the sacrifices of war
will have been useless, unless fol-
lowed by a sane, just and lasting
peace.”

Mothers Seeking
Profiteering Ban

After some discussion, eivic

finance committee on Wednesday,

ordered filed a letter from Civilian
Pensioned Mothers’ Association of
BC asking city council to take steps
to prevent war profiteering in food-
stuffs.

Position taken by finance cQm-
mittee was that the matter was
one for federal or provincial au-
thorities.

>

yjjiective $4,00

See

Temple Bells Warn of Air Raids

ONE of the 30 bronze bells, which formerly hung in Buddhist temples in Chungking,
placed at busy traffic intersections to warn of approach of Japanese bombing squadrons.

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Continued

Program

“The British people will insist on
knowing why the pact with the
Soviet Union, which could have
led te a peace front which could
have prevented wars, was sabo-
taged by the Chamberlain govern-—
ment.”

The Communists stressed that
fascism must be defeated in this
war because the victory of fasc-
ism “leads to the forcible destruc—
tion of every«democratic front
“ and liberty the working class has
fought for.” of

“All the men of Munich must
£0,” the statement ended.

“A new government must come
to power. There can be no real
unity in Britain while the present
government is in power.

“We call on the Labor party
to renounce the alliance with the
Ghamberlain government and to
use the power that labor bas got
to obtain a new government.

“Direct your wrath against Hit-
ler, and against the enemies of
democracy in Britain.

“The stronger your anger
against them, the stronger will
be your fight against Hitler and
for victory over fascism.”

Indian Congress
Leader Makes
Tour Cf China

CHUNGEING, China—Guest of
honor in this Ghinese capital is
Pandit Jawarhalal Nehru, top-
ranking leader of the Indian Na-
tional Congress.

At a meeting staged to welcome
Wehru, Wu Chi-wei, oldest living
member of the Kuomintang,
thanked the Indian people for their
support to China. Webru replied in
a passionate speech, stressing the
common tasks and interests of the
people of India and Ghina in the
struggle for national emancipation.

Webru plans to visit various parts
of China, including the northwest,
where a medical detachment of
Fiindu doctors sent to China by
the Indian National Congress is
stationed.

Koreans Unite

CHUNGEING, China -—An his-
toric step in the struggle for
Korean independence has been
taken with agreement. of the
Korean Nationalist party and
Korean ~ National Revolutionary
party to act jointly.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

McKean Outlines
Communist Stand

Austria and Czechoslovakia had not been thrown to the fascist
wolves in a vain effort to appease them, if a mutual assistance
pact based on full reciprocity had been signed by the Soviet
Union and by the governments of Britain and France. We Com-
munists have constantly warned how harmful to our own wel-
fare and safety these policies would prove to be. We are sorry
to see our warnings so tragically fulfilled.

Some people, whether through.
malice or thoughtlessness, endeav-
ored to represent our position as
due to our concern for the safety
of the Soviet Union rather than for
the welfare of our own people.

The capitalist press has in the
last week been full of falsehood,
rumors and innuendoes directed

against the Soviet Union. The fact}

is that while such endeavors may

conceal or obscure the truth for a;

time, they are damaging to the in-
terests of the Canadian people_
Twenty-two years of virulent slan-
der from many quarters, expected
and unexpected, have been more
harmful to those who spread or be-
lieve such nonsense than to the
Soviet Union. The truth is that the
Soviet Union is well able without
allies to defend the safety of her
own peoples and borders, both dip-
lomatically and militarily.

The truth is that the help prof
fered by the Soviet Union to estab-
lish a system of collective security
and to prevent fascist aggression
in whatever direction it might seek
new conquests was spurned and
sabotaged until the Soviet Union
found herself compelled to decide
to first safeguard her own borders,
and therefore Signed a non-ageres—
sion pact with Germany such as she
has at previous times signed with
many countries and offered to all
without exception.

The truth is that to defeat fas—
cist aggression with the greatest

assurance and the least loss, to
make its repetition impossible, the
help of the Soviet Union was and
is needed and must be obtained.
This applies in a similar way to
the United States, the second
great and powerful neutral power
at the present time.

If we are to be successful in de-
stroying fascism we must under-
stand its character, the methods
and the people it has used to get as
far in its plans of conquest as it has
and the real weakness and insta-
bility of the social structure it has
established. A government such as
the Hitler Nazi regime, that is in

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'

deadly fear of its people getting any
true inkling of what is happening in
other countries, that on coming to
power crushes all forms of labor or-
ganization, is sitting on a volcano:
War is likely to lead to an eruption.

To defeat fascism abroad we must
zealously guard our liberties at
home. Of course, certain precau-—
tions and restrictions are essential.
Sabotage by Nazi agents, to whom
jn recent years all too great leeway
has been given, must be guarded
against Military and defense sec-
rets must be protected. But we
must be watchful lest endeavors be
made to restrict the rights and lib-
erties of the labor movement under
a false cry of national need. We
cannot defeat fascism by aping it_

That is why we Should have as-
surance that public meetings, press
and radio should be under no re-
strictions other than those men-
tioned. A citizen in a democracy
should be free to criticize his gov-
ernment at war as well as at peace.
That is indeed why, I imagine,
leaders of the Labor and Liberal
parties in Britain decided not to
enter the government at present.

Therefore, we need 2 stronger
labor movement, stronger trade
unions. Profiteering must be pre-
vented. We need a people united
and aroused by thoughtful con-
viction, not controlled from above.
For this purpose, even if elections
are postponed, the Ganadian peo-
ple must have the opportunity
at each stage and development of
the war to discuss and decide the
forms and methods of their par-
ticipation and contribution ot the
aim that I am confident almost
all share—the defeat of fascism,

I hope that in the trying times
ahead all sections of the labor
movement will be able to cooperate
in a truly fraternal fashion. If there
are differences of opinion or dis-
agreement let them be discussed 2g
in a family cirele with the sole aim
of greater clarity and closer co-
operation. To defeat fascism the
Jabor movement must become even

Believes
Pact Will

Aid China
Church Publishing

Head Home After
3i Years In China

TORONTO, Ont—Germany’s
non-aggression pact with Soviet
Russia will undoubtedly con-
tribute much towards the fail-
ure of Japan’s war against
China if the Chinese can hoid
out a year or two longer.
_*Pbis was the opinion expressed
here last week by T. Edgar Pleyw-
Man, head of the United Church
publishing plant at Chengtu, West
China.

The United Ghurch plant st
Chengtu was bombed several times
by Japanese planes, although there
was no actual fighting in that yvi-
cinity, Plewman said. He brought
several pieces of shells home ag
mementoes., “They are just small
pieces because I flew 600 miles
from Chengtu to Kumming on my
way, out,” he stated.

The last time the Japanese bomb-
ed the settlement, he added, one of
the leading members of the staff
was killed.

“Japan’s great difficulty in its at
tempt to conquer China’s vast ex
panse lies in protecting railway
lines,’ Plewman continued. “The
Japanese can win battles with their
superior equipment, but the prob-
lem of holding territory is their
chief difficulty... They lose garri-
sons every night when guerillas at
tack and it is demoralizing for 4
new garrison to take over and not
know when or where the attack
will come. They cannot desert ‘the
railway lines or they will be lost

“The Humjao road leading out

of Shanghai to the golf course is
still Held by Chinese guerillas
after a year and a half,” he de
clared. “The Japanese hold it by
day and then retreat into Shang-
hai when the guerillas arrive.
Qne can hear machine gum fire in
Shanghai almost any night.”
*Plewman said he believed Japan
micht have to make a new align-
ment to meet the Russian-German
agreement, and declared that “any
thine which demoralizes the Jap-
anese is good for China”
__ Japan faces probable mutiny of
its army in China and financial
collapse at home,’ he predicted,
adding that Japan’s war budget,
when last published, amounted to
the staggering sum of 800,000,000
yen.

: “The Japanese in China are get
ting tired of war. Many of them
are farmers and they are thoroush-
lv fed up with carrying out the or-
ders of the military caste. Letters
found on Japanese have indicated
this feeling to a considerable ex
tent,” he said.

Born in Bristol, Fng., Plewman
visited his birthplace on the tour
he has just completed, during the
course of which he travelled in the
Philippines, New Zealand, Austral
ia and South Africa. He has been
Si years in China-

Port Alberni

Wins Reduction

PORT ALBERNI, BC. —Reduc
tion in commercial lighting rates
approximating 16 percent average
less than present rates, together
with a half cent cut in domestic
light rates was offered cities of
Port Alberni and Alberni last week
by BCElectric officials after light
rates had been protested by Port
Alberni council.

In some cases the reduction in
commercial rates will run as high
as 30 percent, but the people will
only benefit by a reduction from
nine to eight and one-half cents for
the first kilowatt hour and three

stronger and more united.

cents thereafter.

—

PROUD TRADITIONS OF 1918 CARRIED FORWARD

Hamburg W

By E. D.

PARIS, France — When the
German working class, at the
head of the entire German people,
finally overthrows the hangman’s
rule of Adolf Hitler, the fight in
the great seaport of Hamburg
will be led by the courageous
shipyard and dock workers.

These valiant representatives
of the German working class,
who have just carried through to
victory a struggle for wage in-
creases, are the men and the sons
of the men who joined hands with
the German sailors in November,
1918, to raise the banner of the
German revolution in Hamburg
and Kiel. ;

Their illegal revolutionary ac-
tivity among the sailors in the
fleet cleared the way for the
street battles in Hamburg and
Kiel in 1918, the first armed ac-
tion of the German working class
against the enemy within its own
country, the imperialist war-
maker.

German labor lives today under
@ regime of terror which is 2

hundred times more cruel and

orkers In Fo

ruthless than the Kaiser ty
during the war years of 1914-
1918. This makes the conditions
under which the struggle for
freedom and peace is conducted
ali the more difficult and com-
plex.

Hitler has proclaimed as an
“iron law” of Nazism that there
ean be no wage increases. News
that the “Hamburg ‘waterfront
workers had forced through an
increase in their hourly wage
“rates, following soon after the
improvement of their working
conditions by the fortification
workers by determined joint ac-
tion, indicates that this “iron
law” can be successfully broken.

On July 25 a bulletin board an-
pouncement at Blohm and Voss,
Germany's most important ship-
yards, the Deutschen Werft, and
other yards, revealed a 10 per
cent increase in pay for skilled,
unskilled and apprentice workers.

It was the first result of a long,
stubborn struggle of these Ham-
burg waterfront workers who
have an unflagging and profound

refront oO

hatred for the barbaric Nazi re-
gime.

These men haye not forgotten
that the brave leader of the Ger-
man working class, Ernst Thael-
mann, who heads the German
Communist party, has been held
prisoner by the Wazis for seven
years.

They have not forgotten that
SA and SS stormtroop bandits
razed and murdered among the
Hamburg workers.

This hatred has often come to
the surface. In March, 1936,
5,000 Blohm and Voss workers
protested against the Nazi elec-
tion swindle by breaking through
stormtroop lines at a meeting in
the factory which they had been
compelled to attend, leaving dem-
onstratively in a body though a2
speech by Hitler was to be broad-
cast.

DEOWNED OUT SPEECH.

During the same day thousands
of workers in the Germania yard
drowned out Hitler's speech with
the shout:

‘Were hungry, we want to £0
home '”

f Struggle T

A full-fledged battle ensued be-
tween workers and storm -troop-
ers, the workers forcing open the
yard gates and leaving for their
homes without having to listen to
the end of MHitler’s deluge of

words.

In the critical September days
ef 1938, when Hitler’s provoca-
tions brought war threateningly
near, revolutionary werkers of
Blohm and Voss issued an appeal
to the Hamburg population sto
tighten their ranks in the strug-
gie for peace.

This appeal, distributed by leaf
Jets and Ghalk and paint inserip-—
tions on the streets, did not fail
to have effect. The popular anti-
war sentiment became sharper
than ever.

LEAFLETS DISTRIBUTED.

Shortly after the demonstra-
tions at the yards, little leaflets
were circulated among the work
ers calling for establishment of
a united front among shipyard
workers in fighting for their in-
terests.

The leaflets closed with the
words: “Hight hours’ work is

o Destroy Nazis

enough. Wo more work than
wages. Work slower !”

Demand for a general wage in-
crease found the strongest echo
among the shipyard workers. For
years they had been deceived by
the managements. Since 1935
their wages had been on 2 Con-
tinuous downgrade and there was
a constant, brutal speed-up.

Answer of the workers was un-
broken resistance, mostly by in-
dividuals but often by little
groups, against the sped-up ana
the downward pressure on Wages.

RESISTANCE.

The active Ulegal anti-Nazis-
became more and more the or
ganizers and leaders. The work-
ers adopted the leaflet slogans:
“work slower !” “Equal pay for
equal work !” and began to work
more slowly under the most di-
verse pretexts.

They took sick leave, stayed
away overtime and a consider-—
able decline in output resulted.
The managements and the Ger-
man labor Front were forced to

concern themselves with working

conditions and, in order to pacify
the workers, they spread the ru-
mor that “the labor officials will
settle the difficulty.”

This maneuver did not suc
ceed: on the contrary, illegal
anti-Nazis—especially at Blohm
and Voss—used it as justification
for more energetic action.

DEMAND BAISES.

They spread the slogan: “Now
we must all demand raises.
Everybody to the paymaster’s of
fice. Wor years we have beet
fooled on overtime payments
Profits are increasing, but we £0
hungry and our health is under
mined !”

Thousands of shipyard workers
spread the’ slogan of a2 wage in-
crease by word of mouth and
writing.

They have not fergotten their
revolutionary traditions and they
are conscious of their historic!
task of taking the lead with all
other the workers in the sirag-
gle for the liberation of Germany
from the greatest shame im her
history.

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