REE TRADE

oi

Shamrock Summit I is over between Prime Minister Mulroney and U.S. president
Reagan. To hear the PM tell it, the Tory agenda for Canada is on track — there was
better understanding”’ on acid rain, free trade issues were further explored, and

this Country's military relationships with the United States were sealed with the
Signing of the NORAD pact for another five years.
ul a@ growing sentiment across Canada sees the ‘‘special relationship” between
: Mulroney and Reagan in another way: as a direct threat to the political, economic
and cultural independence of our country, and as an immediate threat, that through
NORAD, Canada will be drawn into Reagan’s Star Wars.
Exactly one week after Mutroney’s Washington visit, the content and full impli-
Cations of tie bilateral talks became clearer. Communist Party leader William
Shtan analyzed the Summit in a Tribune interview.

through the NORAD pact or in any
other way?

U.S. Nuclear Tests
And this concern grows, just days
after the NORAD signing, as we see the
United States test a nuclear device
March 21 in Nevada, despite the urgent
call by the USSR for the U.S. to join
a test ban moratorium.

Here we should note that the U.S.
claim that it is ‘‘catching up’’ with the
USSR in nuclear testing has been
proven phoney. Facts reported in the
March 24 Toronto Globe & Mail show
the U.S. has conducted 799 nuclear
tests, the USSR 570. (The Soviet uni-
lateral test ban has been in place since
August, 1985). What is involved is the
continued determination by the U.S.
administration to achieve military
superiority over the USSR.

Mulroney Capitulated

A retreat on acid rain, a renewal of
NORAD without the ABM clause, a
refusal by Mulroney to speak out
against U.S. intervention in Nicaragua
— shows how Mulroney capitulated at
the Summit.

| Canada’s independence undermined

compel the U.S. to agree to an effective
program to stop acid rain; and to oppose
any U.S. intervention in Nicaragua.

A New Direction

We don’t need more summits which -
undermine Canada’s independence.
We do need policies to strengthen our
independence, sovereignty and secur-
ity. And this, at the same time, is an’
integral part of the fight for a demo-
cratic Canadian culture and_in-
dependent foreign policy — a direction
that Canada must take to prevent our
absorption by the United States and our
involvement in its suicidal military first
strike strategy.

It’s interésting to note that a recent
federal Liberal meeting has called for a
halt to Cruise tests and for declaring
Canada a nuclear weapons-free zone.
This indicates the growing breadth and
scope of peace sentiment, and for inde-
pendent policies to separate Canada
from U.S. nuclear strategy. It reflects a
growing fear and concern by Canadians
about the path the Mulroney govern-
ment is taking.

I believe this sentiment will grow
further as Canadians see the full scope
of the summit meeting and the danger-
ous situation Mulroney has placed our
country in. The concept and demand

ur party warned, following

the election of the Mulroney

Pa government, that the Tory
mee to “*stand with the United
Tae On economic and foreign policy
ri is a danger to Canada’s
tog wdence. The Prime Minister has
by his words, even though he

t kept his promise on ‘‘jobs, jobs,

hasn’
JObs"

ae Tory agenda has been unfolding
- ut the past two Canada-U.S. summit
sul nes: Mulroney strategy is that re-
S Can be obtained by being ‘‘nice”’
«the United States. He speaks of a
¢ pelcal relationship’’ which, he
Ms, will mean a return of favors by
‘shington to Canada.
late Ut this strategy hasn’t worked. The
ec St summit shows how little Canada
Sue, “°S from Reagan on important is-

rach has been made of an agreement
Noth; €d on the issue of acid rain, but
33 ng concrete happened. Reagan
le tly agreed that acid rain was a prob-
Cial'y Ut offered no agreement on finan-
acknePS to tackle this question. This is
an dh edged in the Canadian press
Cen y Mulroney himself in Parliament,
Claim er oush he tried to cover it by
reyine to have done more than the
; 'Ous Liberal government. The
Whe, Is, he returned empty handed
‘it came to action on acid rain.

Acid Rain ‘Smokescreen’
Sup ct. Canadians should note that the
Mmit talks were purposely focused

0 i keke
Bithe Acid ‘rain issue SO Reagan and

witoney could sign the NORAD pact,

Sout strings, for another five years.

Mg.

Acid rain was used as a smokescreen.
As the press reported, it was slipped
through — and this was not accidental.

This is all the more serious in face of

the strong voice of concerned Cana- —

dians and the peace movement across
Canada which had urged Ottawa to in-
clude an anti-Star Wars clause, the
anti-ballistic missile clause, in any
NORAD renewal agreement. This plea
was ignored by Mulroney. He chose
instead to listen to Reagan and the Pen-
tagon.

This is of serious concern, because
there’s no question that NORAD is an
open door to Canada’s involvement in
Star Wars. This is so despite External
Affairs Minister Clarke’s comment that
Mulroney and Reagan have “‘a private
understanding’’.

If there’s a private understanding,
why not a public statement that Canada
will not become involved in Star Wars

.

This is seen also on the issue of free
trade. When the U.S. restated its free
trade position: ‘‘Everything must be
placed on the table’’; it means Canada
must be placed on the table. This does
not augur well for our country, and
Mulroney might note that a recent opin-
ion poll shows a continued decline in
support for the Tory free trade policy.
This decline will continue and become a
majority opinion.

The summit, therefore is not a vic-
tory for Mulroney’s strategy. Rather, it
has opened the door to serious setbacks
to Canada’s independence and
sovereignty; to the peace and security

- of our country as well as to Canadian

jobs.

It emphasizes the need for greater
unity and efforts by Canadians to in-
crease the battle against Canada’s
involvement in Star Wars through
NORAD — this question is not settled;
to increase the fight against free trade; to

for an independent Canadian foreign
and economic policy will continue to
take hold, both in general and around
specific issues. This is already seen in
ideas being advanced for an all Canada
anti-free trade coalition and in move-
ments springing up everywhere.

New Alignment.

This coincides with the Communist
Party’s call for provincial coalitions
leading up to an all-Canada coalition to
challenge Mulroney’s line. It could well
lead to a new political alignment in
Canada focussing on political in-
dependence and sovereignty. This, of
course, will depend on public pressure.

But one thing is certain: the demand
for a change in course is growing across
the country. The time is past when
people passively accept government
policies. Self-interest, deep concern —
and patriotism are compelling Cana-
dians to act. We see this unfolding
today very clearly and very sharply.

»

PACIFIC TRIBUNE, APRIL 9, 1986 e 5