Pearson must answer in Parliament: Why joint army exercises with U.S. Marines in B.C.? SOtk rtuniversary Year FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1965 VOL, —~ 26, NO. 20 THIS WEEK The brutal face of U.S. Imperialism —PAGE 7 * Justice, equality for Native Indians —PAGE 12 BOLT NDP condemns U.S. Policy in Vietnam er Democratic Party 4 ion meeting in Vancouver © oe weekend is expected calling a strong resolution es ‘s On the U.S, to stop the Bios Vietnam, This was in- Bias. by provincial leader Strachan this week. Co « el the U.S, is pursuing Sa Policy in Vietnam,” an said, and added that he acs there is widespread Ment against the U.S, action. it was also revealed this week 5 ea B.C, — NDP is circulating h On which will be presented COLver U.S. Consulate in Van- oh The petition, addressed €sident Johnson, reads: « © tae the actions of Vie es States government in g Overn and hereby petition that me cc to discontinue im- Viet Y the bombing of North ee a first step toward — ire arrangement and a a between the Geneva ae Owers and the United tiating or the purpose of nego- a peaceful settlement.” ee gppeal for united action to Stran, At war and break the 7s ®hold of U.S, — Canadian 5 ferciies on Canadian econ- in 4, 29 Political life, was made en Letter addressed to the NDP convention by the Com- munist Party. The letter sent over the signa- ture of Nigel Morgan, provincial leader of the Communist Party, emphasized that the “Johnson administration’s takeover of the Goldwater policies, and particu- larly the advocacy of nuclear weapons in South-East Asia, con- stitutes a grave threat to our lives.” It urged delegates to speak out sharply “against U.S. aggression in Vietnam and Dominica and press the Pearson government for action to restore peace to the war-torn, suffering people of these lands. . .’’ NDP leader Strachan Said he expects there will be a strong resolution on Vietnam at the convention, which opens Satur- day in the Vancouver Hotel, On Monday the Nanaimo NDP issued a statement condemning U.S. policy in Vietnam and the Dominican Republic, It said, “the U.S, is following a course of action that can only lead to global war.” «They must pull out of Vietnam and the Dominican Republic and allow these countries to develop to their own liking, without for- eign interference.” BY MAURICE RUSH Last weekend U.S. Marines carried out joint military exercises with the Seaforth Highlanders in guerrilla warfare near Co- quitlam, B.C. According to Seaforth com- mander Col. Bruce Campbell it was one of the first joint maneuvers with the Mar- ines in Canada. In view of the absence of any indication from Ottawa that such joint exercises were to take place, Canadians cannot be blamed if they are deeply concerned. Many questions immediately arise. Why are Canadian troops being trained ~ for guerrilla warfare? Surely they don’t expect to fight a guerrilla war in Canada. Yet when they undergo such training the Federal government and Defence Depart- ment must have something in mind. Another question that immediately comes to mind is why are they being trained for guerrilla warfare in joint exer- cises with the U.S. Marines? The Marines are the spearhead force used by the U.S. government to intervene in the internal affairs of other countries. From Vietnam to the Dominican Repub- lic the U.S. Marines are employed to in- vade other countries and put down move- ments for national independence and de- mocracy. Has the Canadian government in mind committing Canadian troops to a support- ing role for the U.S. Marines in the dirty work they are now doing in Vietnam and the Caribbean? Is Prime Minister Pearson preparing to follow in the footsteps of Prime Minister Menzies of Australia in committing Cana- dian troops to Vietnam? NO. THESE ARE NOT U.S. MARINES IN VIETNAM. They are U.S. Marines taking part in joint maneuvers with Canadian troops near Coquitlam last weekend. The joint exercise was aimed at co-ordinating efforts Canadians are also entitled to know whether Canada’s territory is now to be opened up to large scale deployment of U.S. Marines and other U.S. armed forces personnel. Is this to become a regular thing, following on the placing of nuclear warheads on our territory which are guarded by U.S. troops? And is there any connection between these maneuvers and a report published in the April 15th issue of the Langley Ad- vance that 1,200 acres have been secretly expropriated near Aldergrove for a joint U.S.-Canada missile launching base. This report, so far not denied, said that a big hole will be sunk to house the under- ground silo from which the missiles are to be fired. Not least of the consequences of last weekends joint exercise is the affect it will have on Canada's image around the world. What are other peoples to think of Canada when our troops are engaged in joint maneuvers with U.S. Marines on Canadian territory in how best to fight guerrilla or popular forces in other coun- tries? Coming at a time when U.S. Marines are being used in unpopular actions all over the world, will it strengthen the im- age of Canada as an independent coun- try? Or will it convince others that Can- ada is a puppet of the U.S., serving U.S. interests in putting down the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America seeking in- dependence and freedom? Prime Minister Pearson must be made to answer these questions in Parliament. Canadians expect from the Federal gov- ernment a clear-cut explanation of what are the intentions of this government and what are the reasons for joint military maneuvers with the U.S. Marines. to put down guerrilla forces. The big question is: What guerrilla forces are Canadian troops being trained to put down? Are they in Viet- nam, Dominican Republic or where?