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By TIM BUCK

The policy statement issued by
the CCF national council on
March 5 is a welcome sign that
rank-and-file pressure is begin-
ning to Ihave effect. The state-
ment contains criticism of some
Gi the decisions made at the re-
cent Lisbon conference of this
So-alied North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO). The cri-
Ucism is qualified; it is not criti-
Cism of the aims of NATO nor
of its military purpose, but it
is criticism. Indeed, for ‘the
‘leaders of the CCF it is far-
reaching criticism ‘because it
ends, for the time being at least,
their vaunted “three-party unity
On foreign policy.”

By implication the CCF state-
ment admits that the Labor-Pro-
8ressive party has been absolute-
ly correct in several of its main
Contentions during the past four
years. The statement doesn’t
Make 'that admission in so many
Words of course; the use of self-
criticism ‘hasn’t yet penetrated
that ‘far. 4

But, contrary to the position
they have stuck to until now,
the March 5 statement puts the
CCF in agreement with the re-
Corded position of the Labor-
P regressive party: that United
States monopoly control of our
country’s natural resources and
domination of the direction and
character of its national eco-
Nomic development, is jeopard-
izing our future.

: _ Furthermore, it puts the CCF
in agreement with the LPP that
the St. Lawrence Seaway should
be built as an all/Canadian water-
way, that 'the U.S, militarists do-

_A@inaite NATO, and that their mil-
itary aims are ‘breaking the na-
ttonal economies of the countries
Of western Europe.

Those statements are a marked
retreat from 'the unqualified sup-
Port previously’ Biven by the na-
Uonal leaders of the CCF to the
St. Laurent ‘government’s War
Program and its sacrifice of Can-
ada on the altar of United States
aggrandizement. The fact that
Such a marked concession is
Made, even though iit is only in
Words as yet, testifies to the cor-
Yectness, and the effectiveness
of the struggle to ‘build unity for
beace with peace-minded' mem-
bers of the CCF and of the strug-
8le within the CCF against sup-
bort of the St. Laurent war poli-
cies,

The March 5 policy statement
©f the national council should
encourage all peace-minded
-CCFers to demand action in line
With its wé6rds. It should en-
Courage socialistaminded ‘CCF’ers
to strengthen further their de-
Mand for repudiation of the sup-
Port of imperialism and war
Which ‘has ‘characterized CCF
Policy until now and to insist
Upon ‘policies expressing the ideal
of democratic unity; for Cana-
dian independence, peace and so-

Cialism.

*x * *
_ Because it mirrors strong,
healthy, rank-and-file pressure

end is evidently a concession to
it, the March 5 statement of the

‘CF national council is a gain
the igathering camp of na-
onal independence, peace and
Socialism in Canada.

It is equally evident, however,

ro action corresponding ‘with
S words will be forthcoming

CCF criticism of
NATO-upholds

of LPP

only if the pressure upon the
national council continues and
strengthens. Proof of that is
supplied by ‘the CCF national
council itself, in the February is-
sue of its official ‘bulletin ““Com-
ment.” The February ‘issue was
entitled “Comment on NATO.”
It was obviously published pre-
paratory to the March 5 state-
ment, anticipating all its main
features as well as its: modifica-
tion of the Na'tional Council’s
political ‘line.

That issue literally «wpologizes
in advance for the change that
was evidently in preparation.
Every article and editorial com-
ment in it is stamped ‘with recog-
nition ‘that the CCF shares with
ithe Liberals and the Tories ‘re-
sponsibility for the present for-
eign policy of Canada and par-
‘ticularly for the warmongering
role of the St. Laurent govern-
ment in NATO, \

The writers speak of the fed-

eral government, and of goVern-}|-

ments in NATO as “we”. They
speak of the interests and aims
of the imperialist states as
“ours,” they even discuss the rel-
ative advantages and otherwise
to “us” of drawing Tito or Fran-
co into NATO. The keynote of
‘the entire bulletin is, to quote an
article ‘by David Lewis, “social-
ists everywhere, and the CCF in
‘Canada, support NATO.” The
whole jbulletin is written in a
pretentious tone which suggests
that the authors are deluded
that they actually determine
NATO policies.

Andrew Brewin assures his
readers, blithely but quite false-
ly, that ‘Canada and the United
States “can have both guns and
butiter:’ But, ‘he warns his fel-
low statesmen, Churchill, Tru-
man, et al, that: “In France and
Italy large Communist parties
are ready to take advantage of
an Increase in ‘the cost of living
and the political failure to share
equitably the burden of this in-
creased cost of living.” That tyip-
ifies the qualification attached to
the support that David Lewis
postulates. (We support you...
but look out for the Commun-
ists.)

he) ok *

It is evident that the top lead-
ers of ‘the CCF still pin their
hopes upon identifying them-
selves with the arms of monopoly
capitalism. They will not volun-
tarily lead a genuine struggle
against -the warmongers. They
will not voluntarily identify the
(CCF with the struggle for world
peace through negotiation, ban-
ning the atomic bomb, controll-
ed disarmament, and acceptance
of ithe principle of the peaceful
co-existence of the socialist and
the capitalist systems.

But, even so, their declara-
tion on March 5 that: “The
CCF urges that Canada should
vigorously oppose the arma-
ments goals set in Lisbon .. .”
provides the basis for broad
and vitally important” united
front activities by members
and supporters of the CCF and
the LPP.

The defenders of peace should
take ‘the words of the ‘CCF lead-
ership at their face value and
develop all-sided activities cor-
responding with them. Make
them the keynote of new actions
to broaden the front of the strug-
ile for peace.

Ontario jobless to press demands

An all-provincial conference and trek of unemployed workers to the Ontario legislature
will take place this coming week, on March 18, according to a statement issued by the Union of

Unemployed Workers.

Demands will be placed before the Frost Conservative government on

behalf of 100,000 jobless in Ontario. This picture of destitute workers sleeping on a Toronto

mission floor was displayed in the legislature by J. B. Salsberg, Labor-Progressive MPP.

Valley farmers balk at

“No ‘one should sign the contract?”

“Lets

signing pipeline terms,
send protests to MP

BRIDAL FALLS, B.C.

make up an alternative contract and present it to

the company!” “I’m going to put No Trespassing s igns on my property!” “We must all demand

better terms!” ie

These and similar statements
were made by farmers during a
protest meeting ‘held in Popcum
Community Hall on Friday last
week, in commenting on terms
offered them by Trans Mountain
Oil Pipe Line Company, a com-
pany incorporated lby special act
of parliament ‘to construct and
operate. the ingerprovincial
“and,or any product or by-prod-
uct.”

This company makes plain in
tits contract that it has “statu-
tory rights” to acquire the land
jt wants under provision of the
‘Pipe Lines Act, passed by the
federal government. Representa-
tives of the company do no hesi-
tate to point this out to farm-
ers who show opposition to sign-
ing contracts giving 'the company
an easement on a 60-foot right-

ofiway on the farmers’ land
which the ‘pipeline will pass
through.

One clause in the contract
which arouses ‘the ire of farmers
is that -giving the company the
right to enter or, leave the right-
of-way ‘through the farmers’
property for as long as_ they
want, and to take whatever
equipment they desire through
the land to ‘their. right-ofway.
Farmers with meadow land and
other crops emphasized the dis-
astrous effect this could have.

‘Another obnoxious clause is
‘one whereby the owner of the
Jand has to “cut all ‘thistles and
obnoxious weeds from the right-
of-way. “So,” the farmers point
out, “we not only have to pay
taxes on the land the company
takes over, at a dollar.a rod, buti
we have to keep it clear as well.”

“Depreciation in the value of
my land will ‘be enormous,” said
one farmer who expects to have
‘the pipeline run smack through
‘the centre of his ‘fields.

_ Discussing the offer of $1
a rod (which in some Cases
is only 50 cents a rod) farmers
felt each piece of property
should be given a price based
on its real value and the value
of the crops which will be de-
stroyed for a year or two while
the pipeline is in actual con-
struction. :

One farmer, for instance, esti-
mated a loss of approximately
$250. a year while construction
was going on in his hay meadow.

The opinion was expressed
that the pipeline could be con-
structed along the river bed
where it would not ‘interfere with
anyone’s property. It was felt
the company had not investi-
‘gated a proper route which would
cause the least loss to farmers.

A suggestion to write a let-
ter of protest to George
Cruickshank, MP for Fraser
Valley, was agreed upon by
those present, and it was fur-
ther agreed that no one would
sign the proposed contract
until further discussions had
been held.

Some of ‘tthe farmers present
had not yet been approached by
company representatives, even
though surveyors had already
been through their property. It
was decided that another meet-
ing would be held after the
company had made its. offer to
these farmers.

Communist anniversary
opening rally April 6

Opening rally in a series of
meetings and events celebrating
30 years of Communist struggle
in Canada will be held on April
6 in Pender Auditorium, it was
announced this week by Alf
Dewhurst, Lalbor - Progressive
party provincial organizer.

Musical numbers will feature
the cultural part of the program,
and the main speech will outline
the path traversed by Canadian
Communists over the past 30

years and outline the road ahead
to socialism.

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FOR RENTALS
Phone PA. 9481

SUITE 515

STANTON, MUNRO & DEAN

Barristers - Solicitors - Notaries

FORD BUILDING
(Corner Main & Hastings Sts.)
MARINE 5746

198 E. HASTINGS

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Commemorating the 138th Anniversary
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BARD OF THE UKRAINE |

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PENDER AUDITORIUM
March 16. 1952 — 8 o.m.

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PACIFIC TRIBUNE — MARCH 14, 1952 — PAGE 7