In a paper presented to the
opening policy session of the

recent National Convention of -

the Association of United Uk-
rainian Canadians, Mitch Sago,
editor of the Ukrainian Cana-
dian, said, “We believe that one
of the keys to ‘a just society’
is social justice, based on the
equality of peoples. “This,” he
added, “is essentially the nature
of the crisis of Confederation—
a conflict that was built into the
very cement of the unequal
union of 1867.”

“Tt is now clear,” he continu-
ed, “from events of the last few
years, and notably the past six
months — including the power
struggle at the Liberal leader-
ship convention only a week ago,
that the Anglo-Canadian Estab-
lishment is determined to defend
its positions of privilege and
dominance at the expense of the
French Canadians. They will
stubbornly resist’ the efforts of
French Canada to achieve equal

about the Third Element in the
days ahead,” Sago continued.
“On the face of it, the idea ap-
pears reasonable and innocent.
For these and other reasons, and
because it will be used to lead
many well-meaning people down
a blind alley, it deserves a closer
look.

“The very idea seeks to create
an illusion of Canada as a soci-
ety of ‘three elements’, and
thereby challenge the reality of
two nations. According to the
authors of this theory, Cana-
dian society is made up of a)
the British Element, (b) the
French Element, and (c) the
Third Element.

“But the idea of a ‘third force’
could only be supported by a
theory of ‘three elements’. In
the present conflict for-a new
and equal partnership, between
the two nations of Canada, a
‘third’ claimant had to be in-
vented — one that could mea-
sure up to the other two.

terms with their English-speak- |
ing counter-part in any continu-
ing union.”

Sago refered to certain
“ethnic” politicians who also re-
ject the concept of Canada as
a society of two nations. “They
have taken a position under the
umbrella of a new theory. They
endeavour to justify their claims
for a special and third ethnic
position in Canadian society by
their theory of the Third Ele-
ment.

“We are bound to hear more

“The fact is that we either
belong to the national commu-
nity of French-speaking Cana-
dians, or to the national com-
munity of English-speaking Ca-
nadians. We are ethnic elements
of one or the other nation in
Canadian society..We belong to
one of these two nations. There
is no ‘third’ national community
in the making.”

Sago argues “that the native
born are not ‘ethnic elements’
within the meaning of immigra-
tion and settlement. They are

Travellers is cha

Since the end of World War
II our minds have been assailed
by a deluge of cold.war movies,
comic books, novels and TV
plays. Now, at 12 Alexander,
Toronto Workshop Productions
‘offers us the other side of the
argument—a defense of Europe’s
socialist countries, a denuncia-
tion of new rightist alliances,
and a sharp warning that we are
again heading for war.

The Travellers is a play by the
noted Scottish singer and writer
of folk songs, Ewan MacColl.

' Indignant, anguished, challeng-
ing, MacColl’s drama is worked
out on a train speeding symbol-
ically through the night—desti-
nation unknown. Unknown, that
is, to all but a few of the passen-
gers. To these few it is obvious
that at the end of the line is war
and that they must stop the

train.

MacColl has stated a case that
has required expression for all
too long. But in theatre terms,
within the disciplines of the
stage, his characters overstate
the case; they are too prone to
make speeches, to orate; their
bold language lacks inspiration.

' Nevertheless, despite some
bland writing, the play holds
one’s interest. Its ideas chal-
lenge, its people are unusual, the
very locale is one of tense mo-
tion, the events are. violent and
shocking.

The director, George Lus-
combe, and his designer, Nancy
Jowsey, have given us a demonic
train of flashing lights and explo-
sive sounds—a marvellous envi-
ronment for the characters on
stage. But the-Workshop’s com-
pany (new except for three vet-
erans) has not quite mastered
the problems of MacColl’s script,

Page 10—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—MAY 10, 1968

“Third Element’ theory

native to the two national com-
munities that constitute the peo-
ples of Canada. They are not
‘third’ anything . . . but simply
Canadians who like all others,
have an ethnic background and
heritage. They do not regard
themselves as a separate and

alien element in the mainstream’

of Canadian life. And they resent
those who caricature them in
this way. They seek no new
labels — only new answers in
their quest for a better life. And
they belong to the generations
who are determined to make
national and social justice the
touchstones of creative society.”

Sago refers to the fact that
Senator Paul Yuzyk of Winni-
peg plans to call a conference
of “Third Element” exponents,
those ethnic leaders and politi-
cians who are willing to combine
their forces in a common front
with the Establishment against
the democratic forces of French
Canada.

“This Association,” Sago said,
“and other progressive ethnic or-
ganizations inthe country, will
not be among the participants at
such a conference, even if, in-
vited (and there is no prospect
of that happening.)

“Any such conference can only

"have, as its main purpose, the

consolidation of reactionary ele-
ments within the ethnic groups
for a divisive role in the present
situation. It cannot be otherwise
when the declared aim of such
a gathering is to create a propa-
ganda base against those who
seek Canadian unity and pro-
gress through a new and equal
union of our two nations,

“Tt is already evident that cer-
tain politicians and office-seek-
ers will shamelessly exploit the
sentiments, grievances and aspi-
rations of the ethnic groups in
this country for the establish-
ment of an ‘ethnic power’ bloc,
if they can succeed in papering
over their differences. Such a
political base, or even the ap-
pearance of one, would not serve
the democratic interests of the
ethnic groups — whose fate is
inseperable from the national
communities to which they be-

‘long. No group or combination

of groups can grow and flourish
at the expense of others in our
society. The crisis of Confedera-
tion clearly attests to this.”

which does not flesh out the

black - and - white character
sketches into real human beings.

Despite the script difficulties,
three characterizations stand out
— the Polish peasant woman for
her simplicity and her strength;
the Scottish engineer for his
calm, professional isolation; and
the American soldier for his
naivete and his master-race
values. These three manifest an
inner vitality that is very con-
vincing.

It is courageous of Workshop
Productions to present this time-
ly play. The show has much to
commend it, not least of which
is W.P.’s willingness to experi-
ment with lights, projections,
staging and subject matter. And
courage deserves large audiences
to encourage it.

—Martin Stone

N THE realm of merchan-
dising there’s a_ well-
known firm in these parts
which is generally known by
its slogan, “We _ undersell
everybody.” Be that as it
may, at least it is taken for
granted they are selling what
belongs to them.

In nearly two decades of
Socred merchandising in B.C.
a more apt slogan illustrating
the Bennett Socred sales
pitch would be, “We sell
everything,” but -with an im-
portant distinction — _ that
everything it sells is the pro-

perty of the people of B.C. .

and not its own. In time I
have known many_ “highly
respected” businessmen who

have done a “stretch” in the-

local hoosegow for much les-
ser offenses of a like nature.
Their main handicap was they,
lacked “parliamentary immu-

nity.”
Forest resources, mineral
deposits, vast hydro and

water resources, coal, “unpro-
fitable’” when mined by Cana-
dians' for Canadians, but
highly profitable for mono-
poly when mined for Japan.
Similarity with iron, copper
and/or other metaliferous re-
sources—all sold for export
to U.S., Japan and other fore-
ign monopoly at basement-
bargain prices. The Bennett
“we sell everything” sales
department puts On more
$1.49-day sales than all other
B.C. merchandising firms
combined, but again with a
marked distinction, viz; when:
private enterprise puts on a

‘big sale at least the people

who owned the goods sold
know what the revenue
“take” was and where it
went.

Not so with the people of
B.C. who see their cherished
natural resources being ship-
ped out daily by the train and
boatload. They know it has
been “sold,” but. store cashier
W. A. C. Bennett in the capa-
city of chief broker and keep-
er of the provincial purse,
keeps them guessing as to
exactly “how much,” and still
more perplexed on what, was
or is done with the “sales”
boodle.

Obviously from long expe-
rience in the ‘“‘we sell every-
thing” business, it is con-
sidered advisable (for the

salesmen) not to be too speci
fic on what they get for ou
resources, and still less speci
fic on what they do with it.

Yessir, ‘“‘we sell every
thing” and Socredia has ele
vated the art almost to the
level of a Papal Encyclical]
especially when it comes t¢
the business of appearing anc
sounding “pious.” Such piety
fairly drips when another sal
of B.C.’s present and future
heritage is announced, a sor
of shepherd and sheep pose.

The latest item on _ the
Socred “bargain” counter fo;
quick sale, if albeit small re
turns, are the names of re
gistered car owners in B.C,
their driving records, type o
car driven, social ‘status
health, insurance risk, ete
and etc. Most all of the date
required by the Provincia
Motor Vehicle Department.

The department, as author.
ized by the Socred “sales”
management, now makes al
this data available to indus.
trial, financial and othe;
monopoly concerns for prices
ranging from two bits to two
dollars per, depending on the
nature of the information
sought. :
_ We are informed that the
Socred “fast buck” depart.
ment will net about $14,50¢
or from such “sales” this
year, slightly more than the
10 cents per ton of coal we’})
receive from Japan, but of
course far less in volume of
car owner identities turned
over to monopoly enterprises
for additional exploitation.

NDP-MLA Alex Macdonald
(Vancouver East) has charged
this Socred “wholesale sale of
names for commercial pur-~
poses” is tantamount to an
“invasion of privacy” or
worse. é

When we see a govern-
ment engaging in this sinister
and contemptible traffic for a
“fast buck”, it make a mock-
ery of our vaunted demo-
cracy and the “rights” of the
citizen; and especially a gov-
ernment endowed with the
dual . mentality of a police
state and a gang of hijacke
which wantonly dispose of
material goods and “confi-
dences,” for which it has no
mandate from the real own-
ers to “sell” or giveaway.

“You'll just have to stop watching the i
late news, Herbert.”