UNION WITH U.S. NOT ANSWER Common Market to hit forest industry By CHARLES CARON onfusion is deliberately fostered by the Tories, Liberals, and Socreds about the effect Britain’s entry into the European Common Market will have on Can- ada. They refer speculatively to the benefits we are to derive if Britain takes such a step. This speculation is to cover up’ the facts, which are clearly defined in the ECM constitu- tion adopted in Rome in 1957. Under the terms of the ECM the products of non-members would be subjected to tariffs. Preferential treatment which Canada enjoys in the Com- monwealth market would be lost. Not only lost advantages, but in addition, many of our products will be subject to high tariffs if they are to con- tinue in the British market. The wood products of this province fall into that cate- gory, as illustrated in the box below. Because world imperialism is, first of all, dedicated to the anti- communist struggle through NATO. The ECM is intended to provide the eco- nomic basis of NATO, to fur- ther its political aims. Sec- ondly, it is in the interest of the US monopolies who dom- inate Canada, to force Britain to give up its triple role, i.e. — (a) as the junior partner of U.S., (b) as the leader of Wes- tern Europe, (c) as the leader of the Commonwealth market. W. GERMAN ROLE West Germany’s industrial and military power has been re-established with the help of the U.S.A. as part of the NATO plan. Now it is the strongest power in Western Europe and the leader of ECM. W. Germany has at the same time emerged as the strongest competitor to .the United States for capitalist markets. It is well to note the division of opinion within Britain herself over her entry into the ECM. Viscount Hinch- Exports to U.K. Volume Manufactured wood products E.C.M. Tariff Soft Plywood 10.4M 15% Paper Board & Containers 11.3 M 18% Newsprint 60.1 M 7% _ Pulp for Paper Making 32.8 M 6% Semi-processed goods Timber Pulpwood 0% Lumber . 45.0 M 0% From this table it will be ingbrooke, speaking in the seen that the ECM pattern, just like the U.S. market, en- courages the export of Can- ada’s raw materials at the ex- pense of the development of its manufacturing industries, a process that has been prac- ticed by the imperialist pow- - ers toward their colonies for many years. Obviously there is no future in such a setting for our country. OTTAWA DILEMMA Bruce Phillips of the ‘“Pro- vince” indicated the dilemma of the Federal government on this question. In his column under the title, “Will Follow U.S.”, Phillips speaks of Can- ada following the U.S. in low- ering tariffs to reduce trade barriers with the ECM. He said, expressing government views, “The dark side of the trade picture remained the potential impact of the British entry in the ECM. Finance Minister Fleming put great faith in the British assurance that essential Commonwealth’ interests would be protected, but added, ‘that even at best Canada will have to face some trade adjustments’. Representatives of McMil- lan, Bloedel and Powell River Company expressed the same concern in the annual report on earnings to its sharehold- ers. J. V. Clyne, company chairman, urged that the Can- adian government hold talks with Britain and ECM coun- tries to lower Common Mar- ket tariffs. Clyne added that the company — expects diffi- culty in keeping the sales up on certain wood products un- less Common Market tariffs. are moderated. A logical question to ask is: if there is no future for Can- ada in the prospect of Brit- ain’s entry in the ECM why are there such powerful ad- voeates of, this in Canada? - ‘ vy} i YE a ‘ t ey W353 en Le British House of Commons May 18, 1961, said, “I do not wish to discredit the Presi- dent of the United States in any regard. I say only that there are some people in the Pentagon, in the State Depart- ment, who find Britain and our Commonwealth just a little bit inconvenient. Noth- ing would: please them better than for the jaws of the Com- mon Market to open just wide enough to take Britain’s head, and shoulders and then snap shut at our waist-line and allow the great appendage of Empire all over the world — this great maritime Common- wealth on which we pride ourselves — to be quietly nibbled up.” Britain’s entry into ECM will completely destroy Can- ada’s world position under the “protective” wing of Brit- ish imperialism, and_ will leave us more than ever the prey of predatory U.S. imper- ialism. Anyone who has any doubts as to the aim of the U.S. imperialists should note this statement made recently in San Francisco by Richard Wagner, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: “An economic union with Canada _ is realistic. They are a raw material agricultural nation and we are a manufacturing one.” NEED NEW TRADE POLICY Canadians should not be misled by talk of economic union with the U.S. as being the solution for us if Britain joins the ECM. What we need is a policy of trade with all countries, particularly the socialist countries and under- developed, newly indepen- dent countries. An example of what could be done with a new trade Policy is the w with China. Why should we not have such an agreement with China for the wood pro- ducts of B.C.? This is the alternative to the NATO cold war policy that is presently being followed by our gov- ernments. It could mean thou- sands of new jobs for B.C. woodworkers and related in- dustries. Britain’s entry into the Common Market is not yet accomplished. And whether or not she does enter is vitally important to us. Plans are - already announced as to how monopoly in the U.S. and Canada hopes to solve the problem of the increased tariff barriers. Kennedy says labor must co-operate. Labor _ Pvlicies. Canada’s entry into the E seriously hit B.C.’s forest industry. In the accompa) article Charles Caron, Communist Party provincial 0 izer, explains why Canadians should fight for ne uropean Common Marke ~ Minister Starr parrots the same line. Mahoney of Steel says strikes (read struggles) are obsolete. The fact is that any tariffs on wood, pulp, lumber or other items will not come at May Day Greetings to the PT and progressive movement from STRATHCONA CLUB — : CPC = the expense of profits if mon- opoly has its way. The opera- tors will attempt to unload them onto the workers in the industries in the form of wage cuts, speed up and general intensification of labor. The BAYVI woodworkers must be on MAY DAY — 1962 May we take this occasion to greet all our. friends on this Day of Labor EW CLUB CPC their guard and fight for a new national policy. The pre- sent struggle for their con- | tract demands is part of that fight. of the progr May Day Greetings to all supporters EAST E C essive press from ND CLUB May Day Greetings to from | OLGIN CLUB the progressive movemé CPC May Day Greetif Fraternal Greetings on ayy to the PT and % from MAY DAY -- 1962 readers fron from A.U.U.C POLISH DEMOCRATIC ASSOCIATION COUNCI 805 East Pendet May Day Greetings to the labor movement from TRADE UNION RESEARCH 339 West Pender Street Solidarity Forever! Hall available at able rates for weddil banquets, etc. For further information: : May Day — 1962 Fishermen’s Union 138 Cordova Street East Greetings to all our friends in the labor movement on AUDITORIUM available for dances, socials, smokers, meeting conventions, ete. Good acoustics, public address system, kitchen facilities, tables for conventions. Seating capacity: 400 For rates or additional information Hall MU 4-3254 PHONE: BRUCE YORKE - _ April 26, 1962—PACIFIC TRIBUNE i