Martin's talk of quiet diplomacy

covers support for U.S. war

By PHYLLIS CLARKE _
OISY criticism of his Viet-
nam policy came not only
from McGill University
students after External Affairs
Minister Paul Martin spoke in
the House this week.

Canadian people, in more than
one way and with growing con-
cern, have been after the Pear-
son administration to dissociate
Canada from complicity in the
U.S. war in Vietnam.

For Martin to come forward
with his policy of “silent diplo-
macy” and implicit support for
the U.S. position at the very
moment when the resumption of
bombing is announced by Presi-
dent Johnson, is a betrayal of
both the needs and desires of
Canadians.

Communist Party leader Wil-
liam Kashtan commenting on
Martin’s speech said that he
“used a lot of words to explain
why Canada has not dissociated
itself from U.S. aggression in
Vietnam.”

Pointing out that the U.S. re-

Want action on
high school costs

On a motion by Trustee Oscar
Kogan, seconded by Trustee
Jack Young, the school board
in the Borough of York unani-
mously called for the provincial
and federal governments to bear
a greater share of public and
secondary school costs.

They stated that this was
necessary “in view of continu-
ally rising costs of education,
and in:view of the fact that
homeowners are now burdened
with these costs in the main,
and in view of the fact that
industry and commerce reap the
greatest gains from our educa-
tional systems.”

The Board agreed to “ap-—

proach the Council of the Bo-
rough of York with a view of
jointly approaching the provin-
cial and federal governments on
this matter.”

Further they decided that
copies of the resolution be sent
to Metropolitan Toronto area

Boards of Education urging :
Similar action and to Ontario’

School Trustees’ Council, Onta-
rio Public School Trustees’ As-
sociation, Ontario Urban and
Rural School Trustees’. Associa-
tion, Ontario School Trustees’
and Municipal Councillors’ Asso-
Ciation “requesting collective
Consideration and support.”

newal of bombing’ had flaunted
world public opinion, Kashtan
added; “In the light of this, how

‘much value is there in Martin’s

‘quiet diplomacy’ which is actu-
ally directed to cover up the
government’s continual support
of U.S. policy? Diplomacy to end
the war is one thing. Diplomacy
to cover up U.S. aggression is
another.” é

“What Canada needs,” Kash-
tan said, “is a forthright. state-
ment from Parliament dissociat-
ing our country from U.S, bomb-

ing and insisting the Johnson:

administration abide by the
Geneva agreements and allow
the Vietnamese to decide their
own destiny. This is the only
kind of diplomacy that can bring
an end to the war.”

The Communist leader also
wired opposition leader’ John

Diefenbaker and NDP leader

T. C. Douglas, urging them to
press Parliament to dissociate
Canada from the disastrous U.S.
policy and “to cooperate with
other like-minded states in com-
pelling the U.S. to abide by the
Geneva agreements.”

When all over the world the
demand is placed on Johnson to
stop the bombing, what did Paul
Martin do? He chimed in with
Washington’s deceitful position
that there can be no cessation
of bombing until a military res-
ponse comes from North Viet-
nam. “The position of the United
States is,” said Martin, “that
they are prepared to stop the
bombing if, clandestinely or
otherwise, there is some indica-
tion of the most minimal reci-
procal act.” He in no way ex-
pressed disagreement with this
position.

But what of the statements
of the U.S. command that if
there was a whisper from Hanoi
that could start talks they would
be ready? In recent weeks Hanoi
has made its readiness for such
talks amply clear, the latest
being Ho Chi Minh’s message to
Pope Paul urging him to use his
influence to end the war. Can’t
Johnson hear?

Martin has placed his faith
in quiet diplomacy and says it
would be self-defeating to make
public statements — no matter
how well received in Canada —
if they would close doors or cut
off communication. Does he
mean that if we criticized the
U.S. government over Vietnam,
as leaders of so many other
countries have already done,
there would be no communica-
tion with Washington? Or does
he mean that if the government

“Don’t worry, dear, the children are asleen.”

| ARMS TRADE CLIMBS

arms, according to officials.
The United States placed|}
‘about $300-million worth of}d
.arms contracts in Canada in
1966, while Canada placed con-
tracts for a similar amount in
the United States. :
In 1965, the United States
placed arms contracts valued at
$259-million in Canada, Cana-
dian contracts in the United)
4s States were $130-million. ;
American arms purchases in|®
Canada have increased because

the Canadian Defense Depart-)}
ment rely on American com-
ponents, re

The news item above ap-
peared in the New York Times,
Sunday, Feb. 12. ,

came out squarely in support of
the U.S., our position in Hanoi
and on the International Control
Commission would be indefen-
sible?

Asked by T.C. Douglas if Can-
ada had asked the United
States not to use Canadian sup-
plies in Vietnam, Martin said he
would be glad to discuss this
matter with Douglas privately.

Are not the Canadian people
entitled to know what is hap-
pening? The clipping reproduced
on this page from the New
York Times clearly ascribes the
increase in sales of Canadian
arms to the U.S. to the war in
Vietnam. Canadians have a right
to demand of their government
that he answer these questions
publicly not in private consulta-
tions.

David Orlikow, M.P. (NDP,
Winnipeg North) challenged
Martin on the contention that
Canadians do not want changes
in the defense sharing agree-
ments with the U.S., saying: “I
suggest we abrogate it (the
agreement), insofar as it involv-
es shipping Canadian war ma-
terials through the United States
to Vietnam.”

Later in the debate Douglas
said Martin’s speech was an
apology for the lack of action
by the Canadian government.

He said the minister was “like
Pilate of old, publicly washing
his hands of all responsibility.”’

“We have had quiet diplo-
macy. It has gone on for several
years and nothing has come of
it.” Douglas said, challenging
the government to speak out.

“Canada should have the
courage at this time to say we
will not sell any armaments to
the United States unless we
have an assurance these arma-
ments will not be used in Viet-
nam,” he added.

The call for a ban on sale of
arms to the U.S. for the dura-
tion of the Vietnam war comes
from within the Liberal party
itself. It was called for only last
week at the Canadian University
Liberal Federation. In ‘the de-

bate one delegate had pointed
out that (anada can hardly
claim a position of neutrality
when she sells arms to one side.

The facade of neutrality wears
thin when cabinet ministers de-
liver the sort of weasel-worded
speeches Martin just did.

A far more honest position of
neutrality is that displayed by
the Canadian Friends Service
Committee which met over the
last weekend with members at-
tending from all parts of Cana-
da and the United States.

The Quaker service body, in
its release after the meeting, ex-
pressed their appreciation for
the wide public support received

for their medical aid program.

to all parts of Vietnam. They
say the program will continue
with the next shipment sche-
duled for March and this one
will include first-aid kits for use
in Vietnamese villages.

A far more honest position

, was that taken by the 60 resi-

dents in the Kitchener-Waterloo
area who met on Feb. 4 to dis-
cuss the war in Vietnam.

Following are some of the re-
solutions passed at that confer-
ence as set forth in the sum-
mary of proceedings by the
Kitchener-Waterloo Peace Move-
ment:

“To urge supporters to write
their member of Parliament
emphasizing their support for
the government continuing to
allow the Society of Friends to
send aid to both North and
South Vietnam.

“To request all Kitchener-
Waterloo churches to take a
pre-Easter offering for the Soci-

ety of Friends medica
gram; :

“To support the
students to establish
booth on a permanet
downtown Kitchenel /

“To urge the Canily
ernment to publicly SW
call of U.N. Secreta
U Thant for the follo
to be taken toward @
war in Vietnam: (1)
cessation of the
North Vietnam, (2) 9@
of the war in South Vi
agreement to_ incl
peace negotiations all
volved in the fightin&

“To recommend thal
adian government rev!
fense sharing arrange™
the United States ™
the fact that arms shi
the United States, W
be used in Vietnam, ©
Canada’s neutrality
of the Internatio
Commission.”

What we need is
“quet” diplomacy.
tion of Canadians 10
Vietnam is known.
time for our Parliam
rightly express it.

FIRST TIME

The cowboy gazed !
contempt at the here —
which he was guarding |
lo!” he moaned. “The © e
nastiest, dirtiest but,
ters I ever did see!”
turned to another an
ly,. “Well, there it '
I thought I’d never
discouraging word!”

Slav meet protest
rise of neo-nazisi

The following resolution was

“ passed at an all Slav Banquet

held on Feb. 5, 1967 at! 300
Bathurst St., Toronto. There
were over 325 people present
and it was adopted unanimous-
ly:
“We, Slavic Canadians, gath-
ered at a banquet at the Ukraini-
an Hall in Toronto on Feb. 5,
1967, on the occasion of Slav
solidarity wish to add our voice
to those Canadians who are very
concerned and alarmed over the
resurgence of nazism and fas-
cism in Germany and the stepped
up activities of fascist elements
in this part of the world.

“Tt is not an accident that fas-
cist terrorists recently bombed
embassies and consulates in six
U.S. and Canadian cities. We are
now reaping the fruit of a long
practiced government policy
which amounts to fostering and
nurturing a whole network of
fascist spokesmen and agents
among our ethnic groups. And
with the resurgence of reaction
in other parts of the world, fas-
cist elements will become _ in-
creasingly active and will begin
to practice that which Hitler has
taught them: anti-Semitism, ra-
cism and terrorism.

“The rebirth of nazism must
be prevented at all cost. Tens of

millions were killed, “@
missing; thousands of nf
villages destroyed—st
balance sheet of Naz!

A sinister shadow is 4
ing over Europe—thé
German nazism hea

like Fritz Tillen, Ad]
Thadden and others, &,
a danger to peace 9% |
Europe but through
world.

“It shall be the ™%
Slavic Canadians, W
men bore the brunt
instigated by Germat
ism to expose every
fascism at home and 4 tf
to develop such forms 9
which will enhance th®
peace and greater
solidarity among Cat
Slavic origin.”

COMING
A DECENT HO?

A special four-pag?
on Canada's housing

February 24, 1967—PACIFIC TRIBUNE”

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