ae underground tests, vention of the spread of nuc-~ om Communists hail nuclear test ban accord The Political Committee of the British Communist Party said last week, ‘‘The test ban treaty has been universally welcomed by supporters of _ peace as a first step toward _ the total abolition ~of nuclear weapons and general and - complete disarmament. __It said that, “all supporters of peace recognize that this is only the first step. The treaty does not in itself end the war _ danger, the arms race, or the “manufacture of nuclear arms. A prolonged struggle is needed to carry forward this advance to the banning of all tests, including the pre- _ lear weapons, the abolition and destruction of all nuclear weapons and general and complete disarmament.” “In Britain we have the special duty to step up the fight for the removal of Am- _ erican nuclear bases, the re- _nunciation of nuclear weap- ons by Britain, and to liber- and arduous | ate our country from the Am- erican NATO nuclear strate- gy. The people must be rous- ed to defeat the multi-lateral nuclear force, insisted on by America, which would give “West Germany nuclear weap- ons.” Answering some of the cri- ticism raised by China, the statement adds: “To talk of a ‘nuclear monopoly’ of nuc- lear powers is to equate soc- ialism and imperialism in a way that is unthinkable from any Communist standpoint. It is equally wrong to make the existing situation an argu- ment for the further spread- ing of nuclear weapons. This could not help, but would gravely hinder, the aim of the complete abolition and de- struction of all nuclear weap- ons and disarmament.” “The supreme task now is for all supporters of peace to unite their strength and _ in- tensify their efforts for peace,” concludes the state- ment. Suffering in Greek prisons By JOHN WEIR __. MOSCOW: The inhuman con- ditions of more than a thousand Greek patriots languishing in prison were described at a Mos- cow pres conference by Manolis Glezos, during the Second World War. Glezos, recently released from prison as the result of world- wide pressure on the reactionary _ Greek government, arrived with his family in Moscow to receive the Lenin Prize for promoting peace among “nations. At the press conference, Glezos also described the struggle of his - people for a free and democratic Greece, and for making the Bal- -kans an atom-free zone. + MANOLIS GLEZOS_ ‘How the Pentagon conspired to prevent opinions opposing their House was made public recently. The sensational _ disclosure, which is expected to produce repercussions in official as well an article-in the Aug. 13 issue of Look magazine. The article asserted that on * July 25, 1945, 12 days before the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, 224 of the nations top. atomic scientists appealed to: President Harry S. Truman not: ‘to use the bomb until Japan had been given a “military demon. sg the hero who tore the” nazi swastika from the Acropolis: In reply to numerous questions ~ : eee pondent. of France-Press-imme- - diately blown up by the reac- policy from reaching the White as unofficial circles was made in . he told of his own 11 years in prison and three death sentences, the execution of his brother by the nazis, and commented on various problems mone Greek democracy. — In reply to a qibsoon by this correspondent regarding the co- operation of the Greek and Macedonian people, Glezos said Greek democrats support full na- tional minority rights to the Macedonian and Turkish popula- tions, and declared that the es. tablishment of friendly relations between the Balkan states and the eradication of imperialist in- fluences will remove the basis of hatreds and suspicions and will allow friendly. solution of all problems. The despatch from the corres. tionary papers in Greece — states the question ‘was put by’ prearangement by This canard was_ evidently manufactured to create discord / and whip up chauvinist feelings _ now under way in which the re- -actionaries are fearful of being defeated. oan ae statement to the Moscow ~ corréspondent of the Greek paper ‘‘Avgi,”’ the Canadian Tri. _bune correspondent branded the heap aN story a fabrication. Hirohsima was avoidable stration,”’. of the bomb and _ of- fered a chance to surrender. _ Written by Fletcher Knebel-and Charles W. Bailey after research-, ing secret archives of the Man- hattan Project, the article asserts ‘that the scientists’ appeal was suppressed until it was too late to prevent the bombing of Hiro- shima, which killed 100,000 peo. — ple and injured another 150,000. President Truman has said on © several occasions that he would -drop the bomb ve Hiroshima again “if necessary,’’ and denied the article’s assertions and dis- » missed them as containing no real disclosure. — ; i i353 8° 35 42 5% PETE SEEGER, first ranking folk singer in the U.S. and known around the world, will sing in Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth ‘Theatre Sunday, August 18. He is; appearing under Famous Artists sponsorship. Interest rate boost shows rising crisis As predicted in last week’s edition of the Pacific Trib- une the U.S.-Canada “integra- tion” noose hag already tight- ened as a direct result of the U.S. “foreign securities” tax. This week the Bank of Canada hoisted its lending rate of interest from 3% to four percent, thereby setting the pace on all credit lending, and highly iidicative of a new round of “austerity” and “tight-money” policies for Canadians. Bank of Canada Governor Rasminsky ‘hopes’ that this boost in interest rates to bor- rowers won't restrict the “availability of credit’, also that it will assist in maintain- ing Canada’s ‘international payments position.” Immediately following the U.S. “foreign securities tax” announcement Finance Min- ister Gordon reported that Canada’s “foreign reserves in gold and U.S. dollars had sagged by some $190.6 mil- — lion in July. The Bank of Canada move to up interest rates on borrowing is primar- ily aimed at halting this “sag”, by loading it onto the people, which in turn. will mean higher interest rates and higher costs all down the ~ line. : The: U;S. Tecaeury Depart- ment are reported to be “closely studying” the Bank of Canada action. _ Although the Canadian — government and Bank of Canada ‘are trying to play down the significance of the boost, it is noteworthy that when the rate was cut to 3% percent it was heralded — as a move to ease credit. NDP PARLEY Cont'd. from pg. 2 the survival of mankind merely to keep up the pretense that East Germany doesn’t exist. “The signing of the new test ' ban agreement has changed the whole international picture. The crucial question is how can Cana- daa use her influence to bring NATO and Warsaw together. to lay the foundation for -world peace.” Later in the day, and typically late in the convention, the policy committee brought foward a reso- lution entitled ‘World Peace’ which took the place of a rather © large number of varied resolu- tions from all points of view and from all across Canada. It was around this resolution that the greatest tension and heat in the convention was felt. G. Dowding of B.C. moved re- ferral, basing his motion on a demand that the N.D.P. call for withdrawal from NATO. His arg. ‘umentation was reasoned and sound. Larry Sefton of Ontario spoke against the motion of re- ferral (in essence by voting for the motion to refer, you were agreeing that the N.D.P. should call for Canada’s withdrawal from NATO). closest to open redbaiting of any- one in the entire convention. A remarkable absence of redbaiting | and anti-Sovietism, with this one exception, was to be noted at this convention. “a Soviet — journalist’? and that Glezos al-— legedly called for the establish- ment of a separate is Satta oy _ State. Tom Berger of B.C. spoke about the useful spending of money that would be made possible were Canada to. ee from the ~ arms race. ly On this art malak question, in- volving alternatives to war spend. ing, the policy committee brought forward no resolutions; nor was 3 this question. dealt with in the various resolutions passed at the convention. Jack Shapiro of Regina asked who the “friends” of Canada were — in -NATO—then named Franco, Salazar and others. He claimed that with real leadership on this . * more fights we have to lose? Any question, the majority of Canad- ians could easily be mobilized against membership in NATO. Andrew Brewin of Toronto sup- ported the administration’s NA- “TO position, referring to NATO ~ as if it was the United Nations. Harold Winch of B.C. threw his “support behind the merely in: _ NATO forces. ‘ The hour debate saw some Soheats. ed fire across the convention floor in which the newly elected 3 national leader was put up to speak. Douglas appealed for the convention not to tie the hands of its M.P.’s. NATO and Warsaw were brought about because of a confrontation of the East and West, he said, and it will be re- aS Sefton came the — solved by a pact. He claimed that NATO in this way could be used to bring about peace and disen- gagement in Central Europe. Then, the key to his thinking emerged. Pearson tries to trap us into taking a position against NATO, he elaimed, so that they can brand us as being for the East against the West. “I don’t want to fight a side issue which would allow the Liberals to get away from the real issues which affect the peo- ple of Canada,’’ he claimed. Cc, (TOMMY) DOUGLAS, who was re-elected national leader of the NDP by accla- mation. Colin Cameron of B.C. spoke im- mediately after Douglas. On this question he made one of the most eloquent appeals | made at the convention. He said the winds of change. are blowing in the world. There is a challenge and an _ opportunity which we must meet. NATO was set up in a situation which no longer obtains in the world. A door was opened in Moscow the other day. We won’t be able to go through it if we insist on car- — rying a useless piece of baggage such as NATO. - es “In answer to those who say: ‘Stay inside to fight against nuc- lear arms,’ I say: We’ve lost; and I’d like to ask: How many party which aspires, as we do, to be the leader of the people of Canada better take its courage in both hands.” So the convention, white ex- pressing strong sentiments for peace, baulked at taking the one step which must be taken if Can. ada is to hit at the heart of the nuclear threat. By an unrecorded vote, approximately 75% of the : delecutes: voted with the admin- istration to advocate remaining within NATO. It would be wrong to estimate that only 25% of the delegates were in favor of with- drawal from NATO, for many delegates with constituency and trade union delegations voted with - August 16, 1963—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—Poge S : “ed in a positive way in Douglas’ — ‘al of the aim of building a gen- -uine socialist society in Canada. an error to fail to see that’ the — transform the New Democratic the People’s movements in Can. ful, anti-monopoly sentiments of their delegation submerging their personal positions: No effort should ‘be made to — minimize the distinct peace sent- iment at the convention, register- speech of acceptance. Unity em- — bracing all sections of the con- vention existed on aspects of this — question of peace as never be- fore. POSITIVE ACHIEVEMENTS The convention, mindful of the failure of the N.D.P. to win farm votes or to bring farmers into — its membership, paid consider- able attention to the problemsa of agriculture. ‘ Most resolutions were inade- quately dealt with and had tows be referred back to the executive body of the party for action. The N.D.P. leadership attempt- a ed to bring the N.D.P., its em- barrassing youth movement, un- der stricter parental control, and — passed resolutions to do so. The N.D.P. expressed most openly and boldly the genuinely socialist as- pirations of some sections of the N.D.P. The youth convention called for withdrawal from NATO, | and wanted included in most res- olutions, particularly in the 1963 Regina Principles, an open avow- The leadership is afraid of this radicalism, just as it feared the socialists within the main parent = | body. It cannot be said that the — sy leadership showed a great deal — of statesmanship in dealing. with | this wing of the convention, and no effort to allow it merited eX. pression was made. On the other hand, objectively — the socialist wing itself. fumbled many opportunities to strengthen jo the work and program of the) Te N.D.P. because it, itself, was un-— clear and disunited in its ‘under- Standing of the problems of the day. a It would be wrong to fail to +557 see that much that is positive — was accomplished. The program : nc of the N.D.P. was improved and broadened. It made significant es advances in enunciating a pro-- gram on Quebec, peace and Ca adian independence. » On the. other hand, it would be convention stopped short on all — these questions. It will take a great deal of basic ground work, : along with a “fight for greater clarity and unity. on the left, to Party into that broad alliance of ada which embrace the peace- wide masses with the socialist aspirations of the left. ;