ESITOREAL

U.S. squeezes our transport

The world strategy of the USA, to domi-
nate its perceived enemies militarily, but to
dominate its supposed allies economically,
clearly does not exempt Canada.

Reagan's efforts at forcing continentalism
onto this country and Mexico, in pursuit of
greater control of resources and other eco-
nomic plums, have always been brazen. It
would go along with even more complete
military control, tightening the NATO and

_ NORAD grip on our country.

So blatant and significant has U.S. pressure
on Canada become, that Lorimer has recently
published a 383-page book by Stephen

Clarkson — Canada and the Reagan Chal--

lenge.

But Canadians are aware just from follow-
ing the daily news that our sovereignty is
being challenged continually by U.S.
Government departments, and the idea of
reciprocity is laughed at.

We can go back to the fisheries disputes, or
the USA’s killing off of the joint board set up

to save the Great Lakes from death by pollu-_

von.

_ Arecent example is the crusade of Reagan
and the U.S. Congress to destroy the Cana-
dian cross-border trucking industry. Legisla-
‘tion was introduced into the U.S. Congress in
late 1981 restricting Canadian truckers by
‘banning them from obtaining new routes in
the USA. It has been known to result in a
truck having to travel empty to the USA to
brink back imports, rather than making the
two-way trip pay.
Reagan lifted the Congressional ban, but
signed into law a bill placing a mass of restric-
tions on Canadian truckers. This effectively
harms transport companies in British Col-
umbia, Manitoba and Ontario.

As long ago as Aug. 27 Manitoba’s high-
ways minister, Sam Uskiw, expressed “grave
_ concern” and wrote to external affairs in Ot-
_tawa demanding “a firm and.substantive re-
sponse” to Washington. In a statement Sept.
24, external affairs called the U.S. action
“unwarranted and unacceptable” because
changes in the rules “has made it impossible
for Canadian carriers to obtain operating au-
__ thorities for which they were qualified under
American rules.” ; -

_ Further the statement points out that
_ Reagan’s “law” of Sept. 20 “continues to dis-
criminate against Canadian carriers and
raises concern about American intentions.”

Flashbacks

25 years

NATO SUICIDE PACT

Since 1949 when the North Atlantic Treaty Organ-
ization (NATO) became the basis for Canadian for-
_ eign policy, the Labor Progressive Party and the
_ Tribune have been its constant opponents.

Steadily, day in-and day out, they have said that
NATO provided not national safety for Canadians but
national danger. The treaty robs Canada of her right
to independent action and commits us automatically to
war on demand of any other NATO country — which
actually means under modern conditions, the USA. It
also makes anti-Sovietism the basis for Canadian for-
eign policy.

Today with the introduction of intercontinental
missiles we have reached a time when long distance
nuclear war has replaced conventional methods. In
1949 Tim Buck wrote a pamphlet about the alliance
called “The Suicide Pact”. That’s exactly what NATO
is.

Tribune,
October 21, 1957
PACIFIC TRIBUNE—OCTOBER 22, 1982—Page 4

Without making out the matter of the truc-
kers to be the final straw, one can see in it
what is ca about U.S. policy — whether
it’s toward France, West Germany, any of its
NATO minions, including Canada. U.S. pol-

icy is to enhance its own economic and politi-

cal position at the expense of its allies.

The Council of federal and provincial
ministers of transport, meeting in Halifax in
September quite rightly directed the prep-
aration of “possible courses of action . . . if the
issue is not satisfactorily resolved.”

This situation is only a tiny part of the
results of U.S. clutches on Canada, which
need to be fought if our economy and our
living standards are to be protected. It is a
good time for workers to oppose any moves
toward capitulation to U.S. domination,
whether they arise from Tory pressures or
from Liberal caving in.

Party of the working class

Economic crisis is haunting the imperialist |
world and preying upon the workers of all
capitalist countries. Workers are likewise face
to face with the nuclear war threat that
menaces the whole human race. The recent
meeting of the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of Canada had to conclude
that these twin burdens on workers are, in
present terms, inseparable..

The vast arms expenditures generate the
worst inflation, slash jobs per dollar invested,
apart from. endangering all life. And,
imperialism’s economic and political failures

_ prompt it — with U.S. imperialism in the

lead. — to take the course of militarism, in-
timidation and destablization.

The Communist Party consistently links
the evils of the nuclear threat and the eco-
nomic-political squeeze on workers, and does
so because it is a particular kind of party. °

As a working-class party it fights on a aay
basis, side by side with workers and un-
employed, to defend all past gains and com-
pel improvements in the workers’ lot.

At the same time it is the party of socialism
in Canada.

A meeting of the Communist Party leader-
ship is, therefore, of more than passing in-
terest to workers who, despite being hit with
every anti-communist propaganda trick in
the books,are, some here, some there, de-
manding to know the party’s answers in both
the short and long term.

50 years

THE ‘INTERNATIONALE’

PARIS — Fifty thousand workers followed the
coffin of Pierre Degyeter, composer of the “Inter-
nationale” as it moved in funeral procession through
the streets. He was given a public funeral by the muni-

cipality of St. Denis which has a Communist admin-

istration. ;
Degyeter wrote the song before the Communist
Party was formed but joined the party in 1921 and
remained a member until his death.
The “Internationale” is a fighting song which has
inspired millions of workers throughout the world.

Translated into every language it is today known in all
corners of the world as a battle hymn of revolutionary
struggle.

Joining the communists, the local branch of the

French Socialist Party brought a wreath and banner in
defiance of an officiai boycott by the Socialists of the
funeral.

The Worker,
October 15, 1932.

URS - (O°

In its 60-year history the Communist Pat!
of Canada has stood firmly with the workel
and urged them to join in its battles for pea@
jobs and a life with a future. So today, in tht
wake of an inspiring Central Committ
meeting, the Communist Party calls upd
workers to join it in the fight for those aims,

ven EY Profiteer of the week)

ae

Times are not so bad for some businesses, such &!
glorified collection agencies. FCA international Ltd., Mot
treal, had an after-tax profit of $4,637,900 for the ye#
ended June 30/82. That was up several hundré
thousand from the same period a year ago which
corded $3,928,700.

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60 years |
THE ‘FREE’ EMPIRE {

The strike of the South African workers has en¢®
ina massacre. The lords of Witwaterstrand mines we
able to transform a struggle for wages, for daily brea”
into a conflict which enabled them to murder hu?
dreds of workers and throw the flower of their lead
ship into prison. :

This murder was waged with all the implements® —
modern warfare — the workers were bombarded fro
airplanes and shot down with rapid-fire guns. =

Barely had the strike been drowned in blood th®
attacks were made on trade unions and the gall
achieved by organized workers after years of surugt |
were taken away. The workers of Great Britain
Canada should hasten to the assistance of these