. oat Manna Pearson’s talk proves need of new national policy THE speech of External Affairs Minister L. B, Pearson to the Canadian Club in Toronto March 14 will undoubtedly alarm every Canadian of conscience and patri- otism, for it commits Canada to a U.S. war automatically and without reference to parliament. . It was a speech shameful in perfidy and shocking in its revela- tion of the depth of the betrayal of Canada’s sovereignty by the St. Laurent government. It was a public admission of what the Pacific Tribune has charged — that Canadian independence has been surrendered to a foreign power. Boiled down to its essentials, Pearson has bluntly told the Can- adian people on the eve of the visit to Ottawa of U.S. Secretary _ of State Dulles: * That this country is aute- matically at war whenever and wherever and for whatever cause ing drawn into war against China by the traitorous Chiang Kai- shek. + That Canada’s parliament will be brushed aside in the event the U.S. decides to use its bases on Canadian soil. Involvement would be instant and without by- your-leave. + That Canada ,and especially the Canadian Arctic, is: 'to be turned into a gigantic war base for U.S. atomic bombing planes and presumably stockpiles . of thermonuclear weapons. + That Canada’s riches of raw materials are to be put at the full disposal of the U.S. imperialist war machine at the expense of the development of Canadian in- dustry and trade. + That the Canadian govern- ment will submit to no measures of retaliation ‘when the United States discriminates against Can- kets er dumping surplus goods onto our home market. od Re: 5 Os Pearson argues that there is a difference between what’he calls “legal commitments and political concern.” But he declares that “in any major war we must be on the same (U.S.) side.” If Canadians are to be plunged into the holocaust of atomic war by the action of U.S. imperialism, death and terrible destruction will follow whether the betrayal is committed legally or political- ly. GPeaiebis argues that it is neces- sary for Canada “to maintain the deterrent effect of certain and masssive retaliation.’ This is clearly the Dulles-Churchill line that would turn Canada into an armed camp for the warmakers of Wall Street and Washington. Pearson tells the Canadian people that the fortunes of Can- dependence of Canada on the U.S. is far greater than the re- verse. That is a fact that we must accept even*if at times it makes us feel uncomfortable.” That statement is an avowal by Pearson of the satellite role into which his government has cast a proud nation. Canadians will ac- cept no such terms of subjugation to a foreign power. rue gr BPS: The national interests and sov- ereignty of Canada are inextric- ably bound up with the issue of peace. Never has it been so clear that only through a new national policy that puts Canada first can our sovereignity be restored and our country saved from war. : Every patriotic Canadian will repudiate Pearson’s shameful speech. It is time for the Cana- dian people to assert their will upon parliament for policies of States decides . . the government of the United . including be- ‘adian exports, barring our farm produce, seizing our wheat mar- dent.” ada and the U.S. “are interdepen- Then he adds that “the peace dence, and Canadian indepen- i reel Le tssonereeeetl os : fll | Lu Gre ih f) f | |B) g \ iN i eucrtat feuthN resseam FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1955 |A Jook at labor merger By WILLIAM KASHTAN = TORONTO, The press release issued by the CCL on the principles upon which the merger of TLC and CCL is to be based, makes it clearer than ever that rank-and-file must now have their say on this im- _ portant development. Terms of the. merger were drawn up “in an Ottawa hotel room after a continuous six-hour Session.” Apparently even mem- | bers of the unity committee were obviously suprised at the pro- gress made.” ” _ If the unity committee found _ it easy to agree it is because the AFL ‘and CIO in the U.S. had al- . Teady agreed beforehand. All the unity committee did was under- _ write the terms of the merger _ arrived at in another country. _ This is one of the central weak- . Messes-in the merger agreement. _ It.was made in the U.S. almost : word for word. - : ' This is why the hat is tipped, ; but only tipped in the direction ; of recognizing “one completely “ - autonomous labor centre.” But » nowhere is this spelled out. _ _ Hew autonomous will the new federation be? What sovereign rights will it enjoy? Nothing is - said on that score. Much how- _ ever needs to be said about it if the merged body is to speak as _ the authentic voice of the organ- ized labor movement of Canada. * * x The hat is also tipped in the . direction of all-inclusive unity. _ The press release even declares that “all other legitimate labor organizations within Canada, - \whether Jocal, provincial, nation- al or international, shall be elig- ible for membership.” But the press release then points out “that the officers made it clear they do not regard the splinter ‘independent? (their quotes) communist - dominated unions as bona-fide labor organ- izations. Such groups would be- come eligible for membership if they cleaned house.” — . The unity. committee displays What sovereign rights will new centre have? sheer dishonesty when it declaims against so-called “communist- Cominated” unions. There is no such thing. There are unions which fight for the interests of their membership and there are company unions There are even UsS.-dominated unions in Canada in which the workers have little © or no say as to policy and the election of their officers. What the unity committee is presenting as unity is in fact conformity, right to differ. But how can the labor movement advance except -in the course of debate and dis- cussion over differences while avoiding using those differences as a pretext for disrupting unity? What the unity committee is saying in effect is that no trade unions can become part of the new, federation, unless they ad- here to the U.S.-imposed cold war. This raises another question which the “principles” have side- stepped — the political rights of the membership. Point six of the merger states” that a “constitutional provision shall be made to assure the right of all workers, regardless of race, color, creed, or national origin to share fully in the benefits of trade union organization.” This is all to the good. But what about equal political rights, an end to blackmailing, discrim- ination and undemocratic proced- ures? gare _ The top leaders of the trade union movement have imposed their own Taft-Hartley which in effect restricts political rights and prevents workers from being elected to office because of their political views. Taft-Hartleyism should have no place in the mer- ger. . : lf this is not fought through, .who can guarantee how long it will take before the question of “CCF-dominated” unions and the right to advocate political action will be tolerated by the more ex- treme right-wing elements in the rade union movement? the denial of the TLC-CCL merger 1 Adoption of a set of “merger principles’ by top officers of Canada’s two largest trade union centres has set the stage for unification of the Canadian Congress of Labor and the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada in 1956. Last week an invitation was the Canadian and Catholic Confederation .of Labor in reported to have been sent to Quebec, to join the new body. Forue speaker Alf Dewhurst (above) will rep- resent the Labor-Progressive par- try at a forum sponsored by New Westminster CCF Club to which spokesmen for all political par- ties have been invited. CCF speaker will be Mrs. Dorothy Steeves. Topic of the forum, t be ‘held March 25 in Nordic Centre, New Westminster, will be “What Should Canada’s Posi- tion on Formosa Be?” : NFLY wins debate on German rearmament “Rearmament of Germany” was defeated in the Vancouver ‘Debating League last’ Friday when a National Federation of Labor Youth team, opposing re- arming of the Nazis, won their debate against a team from Junior Chamber of Commerce, supporting rearmament. ~ Ed Moul and Jack Lake spoke for the JCC and Archie McGugan and Glyn Thomas represented NEBY (0 © In awarding the decision to the NFLY team, the judge com- mented that he “was convinced that we should not rearm Ger- many.” , ‘Stage is set for y A March 9 meeting attended by presidents, vice-presidents and secretary-treasurers of the two organizations whose ranks num- ber 1,000,000 members, approved a 12-point set of principles. A further two-day meeting of the unity committee will take place April 18-19. By that time all members of both CCL and TLC executive bodies will have been polled and.presumably have given their approval. This will be the first stage of a “five steps to unity” plan. Basis of agreement is contain- ed in a short joint statement which could lead to an organiza- tion of at least 1,250,000 in! strength. It reads: “The Trades and Labor Con- gress of Canada and the Cana- dian Congress of Labor shall merge into one complete auton- omous labor centre. This new Congress shall embrace as equals all affiliated and chartered unions and organizations which are pre- sently in either the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada or the ' Canadian Congress of Labor who wish to join and will accept the policies and principles that will govern its affairs and executives. All ‘other legitimate labor organ- izations within Canada, whether local, provincial, national or in- ternational, shall be eligible for ' membership.” ‘ The 12-point “Merger Princi- ples” as listed in the CCL press release are: : 1—The new congress will in- clude as equals all union organ- izations now in either body and other legitimate labor camps which may wish to join. 2—The new congress shall be dedicated “to the, principle of promoting and advancing’ the best interests of its membership in the economic, social and legis- lative fields.” ; 8—The objective shall be the creation of a centre which will | eventually unify all ‘sections of bona fide organized labor in Canada. ~ PACIFIC TRIBUNE — MARCH 18, 1955 — PAGE 12 gress will be encouraged to settle | OTTAWA 4—The principles of both in- dustrial and craft concepts of oF ganization are recognized 4S equally necessary. i 5—Affiliates of the new con any difference which may arisé “by voluntary agreement in con- sultation with the officers and officials of the new congress; bY mutual agreement between them — selves; or by such other means as will resolve the issues amic- ably and intelligently.” 6—Constitutional provision shall be made to assure the right of all — workers, regardless of race, color, creed, or national origin to share — fully in the benefits of trade union organization. : 7—Effective machinery will be established to combat discrimi: ation and promote a constructive program on human rights. j 8—While recognizing that the Canadian labor movement has — been singularly free from col ruption and dishonesty, the neW body will take every legitimate means to protect the Canadiat labor movement from such 1 fluence. 9—The new congress shall at firm its adherence to the pri” ciples of democracy and its a)” horrence of totalitarianism i! any form, including communis and fascism. “No organization which, in the view of the neW congress, subscribes to, or su) ports, totalitarianism, shall ® eligible for affiliation.” 10—Initially, the regional ‘ departmental structures and all employees, including those e¢2 gaged in administration, will be retained. Eventually the structures shall be integrated if to a unified structure. _ 11—“Provincial federations and labor councils will amalgamate as soon as practical followin the merger.” ; ‘ : 12—“Every effort will be made to bring about the attainment, these mutually desired objective? as rapidly as circumstances will permit.”