St ALE ES Page Four AWIELI, 12 IOS ihe October 21, 1 THE PEOPLE Published every Wednesday by The People Publishing Co., Room 104, Shelly Building, 119 Wrest Pender Street, Vancouver, B.C. Telephone: MArine 6929. Hat GRIFFIN MaNnacinc Epiror . Kay GREGORY Business MANAGER -.- EpNaA SHEARD Printed at Broadway Printers Limited, 151 East 8th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. Eprror: Don’t Leave It To The ‘Experts’ JPREMER STALIN’S letter stating that the second front oc- cupies “a very important place, one might say, a place of first rate importance,” in Soviet eyes, and Wendell L. Willkie’s considered opinion that the second front is “most feasible and possible,” have placed the second front before the peoples of the United Nations and their governments as the most import- ant political issue of our time. Upon the resolving of this issue, upon the United Nations’ ability to “fulfill their obliga- tions fully and on time” depends victory and the destruction of Hitlerism. Placed against these frank, urgent statements, the con- tention of those who argue that the question of opening the second front “must be left to the experts” is evasive and untenable—evasive because it fails to answer the need and untenable because it insists on ignoring the primary political aspect for the military considerations involved. Those who would “leave it to the experts” deliberately or otherwise ignore the experts in disruptive propaganda who do not want a second front because they have no great desire to see Hitlerism destroyed. In denying the right of the people to exert pressure on the government for offensive action in Europe because, they claim, the second front is purely a mili- tary question, they only strengthen the hand of the divisionists and obstructionists who understand full well the political sig- nificance of the second front issue. » Wendell I. Willkie has himself answered this question. In reaching his conclusion that the second front is “most feasible and possible,” he points out, he had the advantage of hearng the opinions of competent authorities in many coun- tries and the weight of this opinion inclined to his own con- viction, that the second front can be opened. The Canadian people must not leave the question of the second front to the “experts.” They cannot be content to allow the counsel of caution and delay to prevail, when the need is for boldness of action. The political consequences to the people should the second front not be opened “on time” demand that they, and particularly the Jabor movement, exert every influ- ence on the government for immediate establishment of the second front. Drive The Point Home We by one of the most impressive parades the city has ever seen, symbolical of the readiness of every man, woman and child to do their share for speedy victory, Canada’s Third Victory Loan Drive was launched last Sunday. The huge sum of $750,000,000 is needed for the upkeep, equipment and transportation of our men in uniform to the eo it is needed to supply urgent help to our fighting es. Symbol of the Third Victory Loan, the Commando Dagger, is also a symbol of Canada, of the part Canadians are preparing to play in a second land front in Europe. It is the spirit of offensive, of the Second Front, the spirit of Canadian work- men and armed forces who on Sunday marched side by side, demonstrating their interdependence upon one another, their willingness to give their all, whether on the battlefield or on the production lines, that fascism may be speedily wiped from the face of the earth. Marching behind the Dagger Symbol, urging their fellow men and women to “Buy Victory Bonds” on every slogan and banner, Canadian people proved vividly that the Third Victory Ioan Drive is part of the campaign for a second front, for early defeat of Hitler. We call on our readers to heed this call, to do their utmost by individual contributions and by influencing others, to make this drive a success. We urge each and everyone to do what he or she can by canvassing, holding gatherings in local areas, and speaking on behalf of the Drive. Tn the spirit of our Canadians at Dieppe, of the Soviets at Stalingrad, let us all do our own small share to put the Third Victory Loan Drive over the top. To go over the top finan- cially is part of the effort to go over the top in production and over the top to the second front. Italian People Grow . Weary By Pierre Allard N ITALY, the demand begins to echo, “Not another winter of war.” At first glance, one might believe that this slogan is exclusively that of the sections of the people most affected by the war—soldiers, workers, peasants—and that it expresses primarily the will of a people who are experiencing no benefits from the war, but only suffering and privation. : O War Tt goes without saying that the people want Italy to abandon Hitler to his fate and to cease fighting. The country has been at war almost uninterruptedly for seven years, and the price of Mussolini's adven- tures is such that it will take the efforts of several generations to repair the damages wrought by fascism to economic and social life. It is sufficient to point out the Significance of an expenditure of ten billion lire per month for war, a figure which surpasses the na- tional revenue by one billion lire, in a country where all gold reserves and assets are carried off by the Germans, and whose public debt is more than three hundred and fifty billion lire. Tt is sufficient to point to the food situation of a people subjected to a daily bread ration of 150 grams (about one-third of a pound) and a daily fat ration of 1 gram, to real- ize the depth of the Italian crisis and the natural veaction of the people to the statement that the war will be long and hard. Wo one can doubt but that the majority of the people have had enough of fighting and are fright- ened at the approach of another winter of war. At the same time, Italian oppos- ition to the war stretches further than social groupings and is acqui- ring a national character. To the working people’s hatred of the war is joined that of high represent- atives of ruling circles. Mussolini, through his policy of vassalage to Germany, through the series of military defeats which has erowned his personal initiative against Greece and Egypt, through his having been obliged to call on foreign armies to maintain his bands in Africa, has lost many of his erstwhile followers. ARSHALL BADOGLIO'S op- position to Italy’s entry into the war in June of 1940 is generally known. This opposition was based on two main reasens which have been confirmed by later events: The country’s lack of preparedness to face a long and hard conflict, and the inopportuneness of strip- ping the Brenner Pass frontier, making the German menace still more dangerous to Italian indepen- dence. At the beginning of this year General Pricolo, chief of aviation paid with his post for his opposition to Hitler’s plans to enslave Italy. In Palermo and other southern cities, officers partial to the Prince of Piedmont were sbot, and nrost of the southern army’s officers, com- manded by the king’s son, cherish an anti-German spirit in their units. To the army’s opposition may be added the opposition of ruling circles hostile to Mussolini’s economic measures which tend to attach Italy to Germany’s economy. Al- berto Stefani, Mussolini's former minister of finance, goes so far as to denounce as treason the send- ing of Italian workers to Germany, while Italian industry suffers from lack of specialized man power and agriculture faces a grave erisis for lack of labor. It would, however, be a serious mistake to believe that Mussolini will give up without a struggle and that Hitler will stand by while opposition to the war develops. EACE or continuation of the war in Germany's interest will be decided by a stubborn struggle which will be won through unity of all patriots: In Italy, the conditions of strug- gle against the war are so difficult that every party, every group, every influential person has the duty of firmly seeking after the unifying factors and not those which divide. Unity, I believe, can be accom- plished in Italy on the basis of struggle against the war. To de- viate from this immediate goal, which is so decisive in opening up a perspective of liberty for the people and their country, would simply provide grist for Hitler and Mussolini's mill. The difficulties which the opposition faces in the realization of this task are so great that the least breach, the slightest exclusiveness could again be fatal to the country and the forces for freedom. Unity at all cost, so that Italy shall not know another winter of war. As the year comes to fall and the demand for opening the second front swells within the United Na- tions, this will be the goal of all Italians desiring to save their country from catastrophe and vas- salage. Soviet A\uthor Another Soviet writer, Alexander Polyakov, has given his life for his country. Millions of Soviet readers of Red Star were shocked and grieved to see the black- bordered announcement of his death accompanied by a photograph of the 35-year-old writer. Polyakov, a war correspondent for the Red Army paper, Red Star, had been at the front lines from the very first days of the war. He was already an experienced soldier, having graduated from artillery school and served some time in the army. He also participated in the Finnish campaign where he ‘was wounded and decorated with the Order of the Red Banner. When the present war broke out, he was senior politica] instructor in a Red Army unit. In the early days of the war, Polyakov’s unit was encircled by the Germans. His book, “Behind the Enemy lLines,” or “Russians Killed at Front. Don’t Surrender,” tells how his unit broke through encirclement and reached the Soviet lines. This book was a best seller during the first year of the war and has gone through 12 editions totalling nearly 500,000 copies. It has also been pub- lished in America and England. Polyakoy died at the height of his creative work, full of unrealized plans. He was only 35. He had sev- eral more books in mind and not long ago I heard that he was go- ing to the front again for a pro- tracted period to collect material. Tt was on this trip that he met his death. We do not know where he died or how. But no matter. Wher- ever he was, we know that he, like Bugene Petrov, died at his fighting post. In our eyes he will remain the embodiment of the Soviet journalist-fighter, always ready and anxious for action, always firmly holding his fighting weapons—his SHORT JABS | by OV Bill cs 2 Civies ie A FEW weeks, Vancouver © the lower Mainland will be the “throws” of electing city municipal representatives. Thi one phase of public life that ordinary citizen is apt to sluff with & nod and a shrug of shoulders, even though he 1) spend much time and effort loo} ; to the care of his dog. Vancouver is one city in wl this attitude prevails to a harry degree. Jobseekers and “prof}) Si ional aldermen” are allowed {opi climb into office without bs tested as to their real value to ® d city, The actions of some of £) Jater are sure indications that 1 are serving special interests ra™ than those of the people as a wi _ In the coming election campa; a plebiscite of the voters will - taken on the question of one-1 cars. This plebiscite is the resul protests from many organizat. including the City Council it the Trades and Labor Council, Vy couver District Labor Council, Street Railwaymen’s Union, sev service clubs and the people in ; eral, against the decision of the ealled Public Utilities Commiss giving the B.C. Collectric permis to operate one-man streetcars the Grandview run, over the hi of the people, those mostly | cerned in transportation althc > not with the profits of transp ation. : : ‘Experts’ Te decision of the Utilities €™ mission to allow the BC. ectric to use one-man Cars, made, according to its own Ss} bent, because they were convii” by the “experts”. The “expt were produced by the B.C. Collei and it is not too much to ex that the B.C. Gollectric would ! “experts” to give evidence would prove the case for the o nents of one-man cars. They doubt used up reams of “gov ment” statistics of the same as the B.G. Gollectric produce ( the arbitration proceedings b* Justice Fisher, which “governm figures, Purvis, chief clerk in. office of the company secre was forced to admit on the s’ were made by himself; that | were not government figures 3 but B.C: Electric figures. Can Hane! LTHOUGH we are informe Ald. Jones that the B.C. 1 tric said positively, “It was | definitely a war measure,” Alc G. Miller is already almost brea | his neck to rush to its assist | He says the result of the pl cite will not be binding on council, and adds, “If the new are coming as a war measure city must take a broad view 03 | situation and accept them if will help to widen the bottlen | Two bottlenecks—B.C. Colle: and Alderman Miller! This is the same public-spii alderman, who, some time when a committee of Russian-¢ adians applied for permissior hold a tag day for medical ai Soviet Russia, burst out into in’ nant refusal, exclaiming, ‘ council is sick of these small geri asking permission to raise mo) or words to the same effect, A days later the wife of Brit: Prime Minister said she was p? to amnounce that her Angio-l Sian committee ‘had raised one lion pounds, about five million lars, for Russian relief. That course would not shame a ma pen and his rifle—Janet Weaver. Alderman Miller’s calibre: