38th anniversary of the defeat of fascism j MOSCOW — May 9 was celeb- ated throughout the Soviet Mion, other socialist countries 3 Others as the 38th anniversary Victory over the German fascist i Ssors and the liberation of ase European lands from Y tyranny, includi Ger- Many itself. pee an Mad fuehrer’s dream of Conquest was ended, but lion dead and half of the continent in ruins and ashes. The Soviet Union alone mourned 20 million dead. Yet it did not have to be. The war did not come like a bolt from the blue, it unfolded stage by stage and year by year before the eyes of the world. Fascist Italy's seizure of Ethiopia and Albania were not carried out behind grabbed Austria, was handed Czechoslovakia on a silver platter by Britain’s Chamberlain, tore the Klaipeda area from Lithuania and was poised to attack Poland brazenly and defiantly. Hitler's and Mussolini’s forces helped fascist Franco destroy republican Spain (remembering those who fought and bled to bring victory in 1945 we should also bow our From Moscow John Weir Lessons of the past apply today to salute the heroes that fought Bethune, the Mac-Paps and all who tried to prevent the on- coming holocaust while it was yet engaged in conquering Spain. All this was seen and where it would end was no secret. It was also no secret how the drive to catastrophe could be stopped and the aggressors hurled back. The Soviet Government and pro- gressives in all lands called for the formation of a united anti-ag- gression front. Why was it not established? Because of the blind anti-com- munism of the British, French, American and Canadian govern- ment leaders, who gambled on Hitler warring against the Soviet Union, leaving them to pick up the pieces. So excuses were fab- ricated, such as ‘“‘appeasement’’ (let the beasts devour one or another country so to say and they will not be hungry for more) and ‘‘nonintervention”’ (barring means of defence for Spain while the fascist powers were pouring arms and men to Franco). The western powers walked into the war with their eyes open.» Why recall these events? Be- cause we are duty bound not only to celebrate the victory, not only closed doors. Hitlerite Germany heads in memory of Doctor and won, but also to learn the les- sons of the past that the errors be not repeated in our own days. It was refusal of a united stand with the Soviet Union that brought on World War Two; it was the final establishment of that unity that secured victory. Anti-Sovietism, anti-communism is the poison of our century. History does not repeat itself exactly but it does set a pattern. What have we witnessed during recent decades? From the nuclear mass murder at Hiroshima and Nagasaki to today’s brink- manship that threatens the nu- clear annihilation of humanity it- self. Count the ‘“‘little’’ wars, the military bases all over the earth, the ‘‘world policeman’’ and “crusade against communism” doctrines doctored up as “‘deter- rence’’ and what do you get? Something very like what we went through in the 20s and 30s with Ronald Reagan in the role of Villain. On the eve of May 9, it is fitting to add Julius Fucik’s advice in his Notes from the Gallows, ‘‘people, be vigilant!”’ a price was paid! Fifty mil- es SE. ‘lGa, USSR — Peace marchers in the Latvian capital, April 18, demonstrating 4 New Cruise and Pershing-2 missiles in western Europe. The participants a Temen, FRG to reject the new rockets. Bremen and Riga are twinned. against proposed deployment Iso called on the residents of eee ‘International Focus Tom Morris eee Areply to Trudeau’s letter Whatever Reagan gave Tudeau to drink in Washing- ton must have gone to his head. e's come home a pet Mouse, eager (yea anxious) to Peddle the President's line with: Shameless zeal. Be it on