Only unity can win NDP ‘go-it-alone’ in civic arena spells defeat. The Vancouver NDP mem- bership convention being held August 24 will determine whether or not progressive forces enter civic elections this year united or split. The Provincial Council of the ~NDP has ruled that the Vancouver NDP: may not ceoperate with any other ogani- zation to challenge the rule of NPA at city hall. Several choices face the NDP convention. . It could continue to stay out of civic politics. A substantial group have always favored this course, believing that the NDP should concentrate on provin- cial and federal politics. . it could decline to run, in view of the Provincial Council’s decision against unity, and urge its candidates and members to join COPE and run under the COPE banner. A substantial and growing body, including some NDP candidates, support this position. .Or it could decide to run a slate of candidates and split the vote. An influential group favors running in the name of the NDP even if it means running against COPE. The Trotskyists within the NDP whose aim is to disrupt unity at all costs, strongly support the entry of an NDP slate. , As for COPE, the consensus of opinion appears to be in favor of running a full slate now that unity with the NDP is impossible. The Tribune asked COPE publicity director Ben Swankey for his comments on the situation. “The Vancouver NDP is not, unfortunately in no position to cooperate with us in any way,” he said. ‘‘The Provincial Council saw to that. “The grouping in the NDP which wants the party to enter civic politics in its own name now suggests that. COPE should nominate only half a slate, with the NDP nominating the bal- ance, and that each organization should run its own separate campaign. “That’s not our conception of unity. You can’t have unity when two groups compete for finances and votes and the support of labor, even if they do each run only a partial slate, and when Volunteers for PNE booth needed The B.C. Communist Party will have a fine display booth at this year’s Pacific National Exhibition (PNE), based on the theme of B.C. industry and the realization of 100,000 new jobs. This booth and its interesting exhibits and literature will be located in the Pacific Coliseum Building. Volunteers willing to assist in manning_the booth are requested to phone 684-1451, or get in touch with C.P. City Secretary William Turner. Volunteer shifts will be from 10a.m..to2 p.m.; 2p.m. to6p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The exhibit will operate on a 7-day week schedule. one group (the NDP) is prohibited from publicly supporting the other (COPE). “The doors of COPE are still open. We invite the candidates of NDP to join COPE and run as COPE candidates. We invite the leaders of the Vancouver NDP to share leadership in the election campaign within COPE. We ask them to place the need to defeat the Real Estate - Big Business interests of city hall ahead of partisan consid- erations. The needs of the people of Vancouver should be our main concern. “The feeling of our members is that since unity with the NDP is officially impossible, the only way in which it can still be achieved is for NDP candidates and election workers to come into COPE. But if the leaders of the NDP declines our offer, proceeds to nominate an NDP slate, runs a separate campaign and splits the progressive forces, our membership will undoubtedly demand that we enter a full slate of candidates. In that case we are hopeful that those NDP candidates and members who put the needs of unity first will still come over to us. Unity is the only way to beat the NPA,’’ Swankey concluded. COPE’s steering committee is meeting before the NDP conven- tion to decide its course of action. LABOR ROUNDUP Cont. from pg. 1 docks where foreign cars for the company were being unloaded. B.C. Hydro busses are carrying advertisements for Outspan oranges from racist South Africa, delegate Josephine Halleck told the meeting. A Transit Union delegate said they would protest the ads which ori- ginate on Madison Avenue in New York. Crane-American Standard pot- tery workers are still on strike. The CPR&S Credit Union staff are also on strike, said delegate- Opal Skillings. Though their union was certified in July 1969, they still have not signed a first contract. ; Pamela Smith, organizer for the Farmworkers Union, was given a hearty salute for her work in organizing the grape boycott in Vancouver and congratulations for the success of the campaign of the farm workers in California. fi. All roads lead to Moscow: Picture shows Mr. Robert Stanfield, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada during his recent visit to the USSR. Here Mr. Stanfield is being interviewed by Canadian press correspondent E. Douglas at the Arctic and Antarctic Institute in Leningrad. The Tory leader urged greater co-operation between Canada and the USSR, especially in the sphere of agriculture and Arctic development. PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1970—PAGE 8 LL MULL. iLL a TY (A) “Gentlemen, in times like these we must all make sacrifices — let's lay off another 500.” Big step The Treaty agreed to by the Soviet Union and the Federal Government of West Germany, in which both countries renounce the use of force and eclare existing European borders inviolable, is an historic event. It will make an important contribution to detente in Europe and therefore to world peace. It opens up new prospects for a European Conference on Security and Cooperation to which Canda has been invited to participate by the Warsaw Treaty countries. The Communist Party of Canada welcomes this proposal. Canada has a vital interest in ensuring European security. The Canadian people were twice involved in war in Europe, arising from German militarism *. and Hitler fascism. A detente, security and peaceful coopera- tion in Europe spells Canadian security. This is why the Cana- dian Government and Parlia- ment should declare themselves forthrightly in support of the conference and work for its successful outcome. Such a European Conference can be successful if it rejects the use of armed force or the threat of armed force in relations between states in Europe and recognizes the reality of postwar frontiers. On such a basis it is possible to create a firm system of European security. The Canadian Government should press for such policies. It should likewise recognize the to Peace German Democratic Republic and work for its inclusion in the United Nations. The recognition of the German Democratic Republic by Canada does not have to await a European Security Conference. Indeed such an initiative by Canada which would lead to the establishment of normal diplo- matic relations with that sover- eign state, would be an important contribution to European security, as well as an expression of Canadian independence in foreign affairs. Conditions have now become more favorable for convening such a European Conference on security and cooperation. The labor and farm movements, all peace loving Canadians, should press on Government and. Parliament to work for its success. - YOUTH Cont. From Pg. 2 program designed to encourage all levels of government to provide essential public services, to build thousands of low rental housing units, hospitals and schools and to generally stimulate the economy by lowering interest rates, developing trade with all nations of the world and sharply curtail- ing so-called defence expendi ture. “Such a policy would create thousands of new jobs so that young workers could be gain- fully employed at trade union rates : Picnic huge success Everyone who attended the annual Fraser Valley picnic last Sunday will agree it was a most enjoyable affair. In spite of the fact that many people are away on holidays, some 150 people attended. “Take a Stand’’ was the plea’ and a title of a song composed and sung by 13 year old Linda Chobotuck. Her voice rang out with feeling, urging all to become active in the struggle for a better tomorrow. The musical program was followed by city secretary Bill Turner. who spoke on the campaign for jobs. His speech reached a wide audience as the balmy weather had brought scores of picnicers to the park. An imaginative sports pro- gram arranged by Bill Chobotuck gave amusement and exercise to all age groups. One highlight in the sports event was the log-sawing contest won by Yvonne and Mac Hadvig. © Four food hampers in attractive boxes handpainted by Thena Muryn were won by Bill Swan, Mike Frielinger, Wilf Lennox, and Bob Mason. An unexpected surprise thrilled the audience when the voice of Paul Robeson was heard over the public address system. The 1952 Peace Arch Rally ‘record was played, and time slipped away for those who had attended that stirring rally some 18 years ago. Greetings were sent from this picnic to Paul Robeson, one of the greatest Americans of our time who today lies ill but not forgotten.