Events last week in Panama which resulted in mass demon- strations and fighting in which U.S. troops shot down nineteen Panamanians, mainly students, has once again focused world attention on the policies of U.S. imperialism in Latin America. Panama last hit the headlines in 1959 when its government accused Britain’s prima bal- lerina, Margot Fonteyn, of being party to an anti-government plot with her husband, Dr. Arias, former Panamanian Ambassador in London. Since 1903, when it was carved out of neighboring Columbia through U.S. gunboat diplomacy, it has been a puppet of the U.S.A. A slice of its territory 40 miles long and ten miles wide—open since 1914—containing the Pan- ama Canal has been leased in perpetuity to the Americans and is now virtually U.S. territory. The U.S. got the land for a mere $10 million down plus $250, 000 a year. This has now been in- creased to $1.9 million a year— far less than the old Suez Canal Company paid Egypt before nationalization. Net profit made by the U.S, from the Canal’s operations total about $4 million annually, In order to get control of this land the U.S. organized and fin- anced a revolt and then im- mediately recognized the area as an ‘findependent state’’ bind- ing it by treaty to the US. Preceding the U,S,—financed “trevolt’’ which gave the U.S, control over the Canal territory, Columbia, of which Panama was a part, rejected U.S. rights to dig the canal across her terri- tory. The Columbia Senate charged the terms excessively favored the U.S. * * * One clause of the 1903 treaty precludes Panama from having an army, navy or air force. In- stead it is run by an armed, U.S.-trained police force. Since the treaty, the main theme in Panama politics has been the struggle of the people to shake off U.S. domination and the local landlords and capital- ists who are the instruments of U.S. domination. Until last year, and only after repeated representations, Pan- ‘ama was not even allowed to fly its own flag in the Canal Zone. Then permission was. only granted on condition that the U.S,. and Panamanian flags flew alongside each other at various points in the Zone. people now demand independence Enjoy Good, Home-Cooked Meals at Jennie’s Cafe 335 Main St. @ Modern equipment @ Dining room service ie le sl a ROOFING & SHEET METAL Reasonable oD a << Guiters and Downpipes Duroid, Tar and Gravel ] (nick Bitz BR 7-6722 I mu a tS Bin. ORR ERO RPE EG A A XA eR BACKGROUND TO_ CANAL CRISIS U.S. created Panama as puppet, With its 400 miles of coastline on the Atlantic and nearly 800 miles on the Pacific, Panama is in a key strategic position which has been enhanced by the Canal. Its population of just over a million ekes out a miserable existence with a standard of living as low as the other Latin American countries, The Ameri- can population in the Zone has practiced the worst forms of racism against Panamanians. Since 1960 when he came to office on a wave of anti-U.S, feeling, President Chiari of Panama has tried to get the unequal treaty imposed by the U.S. modified. , The events of last week ha: now put the world spotlight on the unequal treaty and regardless of what steps the U.S. may take to smooth it over, Washington will be compelled to face up to the national demands of the Panamanian people for independ- ence. Miners record gains from lengthy strike ~ As reported in the PT re- cently, the 75-month-old strike by members of Mine Mill at Reeves-MacDonald is now over. The latest strike bulletin of Lo- cal 901 at Remac hails the set- tlement won as a victory. Says the bulletin; ‘In our estimation our gains were considerable. Including severance, retroactivity, and va- cation, the total is 163c¢ per Show Cuba film Feb. 2 A film on Hurricane Flora just in from Cuba and an eye witness report on Cuba will be featured at a public meeting to be held at the Golden Horseshoe, 2685 East Hastings, Vancouver, on Sun., Feb, 2nd at 8 p.m, The gathering is sponsored by the Canadian Cuban Friendship Committee of Vancouver. Myrtle Bergren of Cowichan Lake on Vancouver Islandis pre- sently touring Cuba. She at- tended the celebrations in Havana on Jan, 1 and 2 marking the 6th Anniversary of the Socialist Re- volution in Cuba. The film, taken in the midst of the hurricane, is a dramatic and moving presentation of the great devastation wrought by Hurricane Flora and the rescue operations which saved thousands of lives, The Canadian Cuban Friend- ship Committee has also announ- ced that the hurricane film plus two more Cuban films are avail- able for the use of interested groups and organizations, One is a 30 minute description of Fidel Castro’s visit to the Soviet Union last May. PRIOR GARAGE & SERVICE 219 Prior St. MU 3-2926 COMPLETE AUTO SERVICE & REPAIRS Auto Body Work LEE, Proprietor . hour over two years, Of this, the across-the-board wage increase provides for 7¢ per hour the first year, and 7¢ the second.”’ The Remac strike committee has extended its sincere thanks to all unions and individuals who helped keep the strikers’ mor- ale high by donating food, clo- thing, etc. In particular, it singled out the efforts of Mine Mill locals at Trail, Rossland, Salmo, Kim- berly and Nelway, with special thanks to the Ladies’ Auxiliaries at all these locals, *‘Without you, we would have been lonely indeed!’’ said the bulletin. GF Stewart replies to attack by Province William Stewart, aldermanic candidate in last December’s Vancouver civic election and city secretary of the Communist Party, this week replied to a recent column by Vancouver Provincé columnist, Bud Elsie, dealing With civic politics. In a recent column, Elsie, who is city hall reporter for the Province, distorted the com- ments made in article published in the Pacific Tribune which ana- lysed the election results, Stewart’s reply, in the form of a letter to the editor of the Pro- vince said: “Your City Hall reporter, Mr. Bud Elsie, made use of his col- umn on January 8th, 1964, to distort an analysis of last year’s civic election appearing in the Pacific Tribune, which was ~ written by myself, *‘Since your readers would be left with the impression that Mr. Elsie’s distorted comments ac- curately reflected the views I put forward about the outcome of the civic election in Vancouver, I hope you will find space to print this reply. ‘Mr. Elsie attempts to explain politics in terms of the people running for office or elected, rather in terms of the policies they support. Thus heignores the operative words in my article:— ‘Anyone who has followed civic politics in Vancouver will realize that the three so-called ‘indepen- dent’ candidates elected to coun- cil, Messr. Alsbury, Campbell and Emery, are completely iden- STOREWIDE ANNUAL BOOK SALE JAN. 17th to 25th INCL. tified with the NPA on all matte? of major policy’’. : ‘The burden of my article w: to prove that the forces behin@ the NPA in Vancouver, havilé seen 66% of the people vote against the NPA candidates 1961 realize that there is @ substantial and growing OP” position to the NPA in the cit) and are trying to channel it 0 into ensuring the continuation o the same policies carried by til NPA, | *‘What I indicated is that matters little to the NPA wheth' or not it is a Banfield or a Call pbell, a Block or an Emery; or a Sweeney or an Alsbury wil is elected; just as long as rep: resentatives of labor, ratepayel? or small business groups who ad" vocate civic policies in oppositi to those of the real estate-big business lobby who control the NPA are defeated. 4 *‘And finally I indicated amt repeat here, that whether or nd Alsbury, Frederickson, Emery or Campbell were aware of ih they were like puppets dangled 0! the end of a string in so far # the overall strategy of the NPA in- the last. election Waa concerned. - ‘T might add that so far as pro” viding any alternative tothe NPAs Tom Campbell, for example, 0” his record, qualifes as the mos! reactionary double -dealing op” portunist to be elected to the Van" a couver City Council for many years.”’ Astounding Bargains 20% to 80% OFF Basic Subjects: Art, Biography, Business, Canadiana, Cooking, Dance, Dictionaries, Drama, f Economics, Fiction, Games, History, Juvenile, Literature, Medicine, Music, Philosophy, Poetry, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Sports, Technical, Travel. Russian and Ukrainian language books. LP Records. Chinese Art Prints. Store Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Fri. to 9 p.m. People’s Co-op Book Store 341 WEST PENDER STREET All New Books (Cloth & Paper Bound) | Classified Advertising | COMING EVENTS BUSINESS PERSONALS “FOR SALE — JANUARY 25th, 1964 — GALA BURN’S NIGHT at Lochdale Hall Gperling & Hastings Sts.) 7:30 p.m. CONCERT — DANCE — REFRESHMENTS. HAGGIS AN’A, AN’A. Admission $1,50 BOOK EARLY TO BE SURE. Reservation-Phone Pete 299- ‘5447 or Margaret - 298-4980, Auspices: Burn’s C’ttee-No. Burnaby Social Club. PRESCRIPTION EYEGLASSES — $14.95. All Optical Prescrip- tions filled, Standard bi-focals $5.95 Additional, SEAL OPTI- CAL, 102Ford Bldg., 193 EAST HASTINGS ST., MU 3-8819, SASAMAT SHOES & REPAIRS 4463 West 10th Ave, Phone CA 4-1017 BUSINESS PERSONALS MOSCOW CIRCUS PICTURES Exceptional ringside, back- stage & topside shots of Mos- cow Circus available in 35 mm, slides or prints at reas- onable cost. To view, & for further information contact D. McTaggart, 2403 Trinity St., or phone AL 4-1519, IS YOUR CAR, HOUSE or BUS- INESS INSURANCE DUE? Call Ben Swankey to get the best possible policy for your money. 433-8323. . FOR SALE Farm fres GARDEN PRODUCE — Veg" - etables and fruit. See A, KOR” CHAK, 363 No. 5 Road, Rich” mond, Reasonable Prices, HALLS FOR RENT CLINTON HALL, 2605 Pender. Available for ban quets, meetings, weddings, et Phone AL 3-9964. : 3 TRANSFER — 1424 Commer- cial Dr, Call Nick-AL 3-0727.' REGENT TAILORS LTD. — Cus- tom Tailors and Ready-to- Wear. 324 W. Hastings St. MU 1-8456 or 4441 E. Hastings -. CY 8-2030. See Henry Rankin for personal service, ‘WEST END RADIO—Specializing in TV Repairs. Latest preci- sion equipment used, (Former-, ly OK Radio Service). Now at 1721 Robson St. MU 3-2618.. January 17, 1964—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—Pa RUSSIAN PEOPLES’ HOME — Available for meetings, ban quets and weddings at reason able rates. 600 Campbell Av MU 4-9939, 4 ~_ PENDER | Auditorium (Marine Workers) 339 West Pender | Phone MU 11-9481 = | Large and Small Halls for Rentals