ya ee CANADIAN STATEMENT ON 10th WORLD YOUTH FESTIVAL A unique opportunity to strengthen ties with youth from all countries Below is the official statement of the Canadian Festival Committee which outlines the basic politi- cal aims and purposes underlining its participation in the 10th World Youth Festival in Berlin, GDR. In July of 1973, twenty-thousand young people from countries around the world will converge on Berlin, capital of the German Democratic Republic, to re- affirm their aspirations for peace, progress and a better future for all mankind. The Canadian Festi- val Committee, preparing for Canadian youth par- ticipation in this event, supports fully the slogan of the Tenth World Youth Festival, which is ‘For Anti- Imperialist Solidarity of Youth, for Peace, and Friendship.” Canadian youth share the concern of young people throughout the world, and view their own efforts for social change in Canada, as an integral part of the world struggle for progress. Participation by thousands of young Canadians in the peace movement to end the war in Indochina, has helped to create a situation in the world where the danger of outbreak of war in Europe and the Middle East has lessened and has contributed, and continues to contribute towards efforts for world peace, such as steps toward nuclear disarmament, normalization of relations between states, and in- creased trade and cultural exchanges. The struggle for the national rights of the French Canadian people, and for their right to national self-determination is linked to similar struggles in many lands against oppression and foreign domi- nation. Canadian youth have taken up the fight against the oppression of women in all aspects of life. The breakdown of corrupt colonial regimes in this decade, and the fight against racism and re- pression, assist the growing struggle of the native peoples of Canada for equality and’ full economic opportunity, and against government attempts to destroy their identity. Working and student youth in Canada are be- coming increasingly aware that their economic and social problems are tied in with the domination of their country by U.S. imperialism. Our rights to full employment and job security, to equal educational opportunity, decent living standards, cultural stand- ards, and recreation are linked to the struggle for genuine Canadian independence. _ The Canadian participants in the 10th World Youth Festival in Berlin, welcome this opportunity to discuss mutual problems, and exchange views and experiences. This will be a unique opportunity for Canadian youth to develop ties with young people from around the world, and to express soli- darity in our common aims. We would like to state our appreciation to the youth of the GDR for open- ing up their country to this important youth gather- ing. We are certain that this event will strengthen the understanding between young people of our two countries, and will add to the growing support - for Canadian recognition of the GDR. The Canadian Festival Committee pledges itself to work to promote the participation of Canadian youth to contribute to the success of the Festival. PHOTO AND ART EXHIBITS TO BE SHOWN AT THE 10TH WORLD YOUTH FESTIVAL The Canadian delegation is collecting Canadian art, photos and songs illustrating the life and work of young people. These will be displayed at the Festival alongside similar exhibits from around the world. : : = Photos will show the various aspects of life of young people and their struggles for social change. The art of youth and children will also form a part of the display. Songs, both words and music, will be compiled into a Canadian songbook. All art, photo and song contributions should be sent to The Canadian Festival Committee, 479 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5V 2A9. => s/ _ pledge their support to the com- Combat r CHICAGO — Representatives of several U.S.-based progres- sive organizations met last week to launch a new national organ- ization to combat racist and political repression. Among the main speakers at the convention were Angela Davis, Anthony Russo, a recent- ly released co-defendant in the infamous Pentagon Papers trial, and Clyde Bellecourt. Bellecourt, spokesman for the American Indian Movement and a participant in the _ recent Wounded Knee protest, called the conference “the greatest ever held.” According to the conference’s registration records, 769 repre- sentatives of Black, white, Chi- cano, Puerto Rican, American Indian, Asian and labor organ- izations, which submerged their political and ideological differ- ences, sent representatives to mon struggle. ‘Protective Shield’ The new organization ‘“‘will have to push back repression and be able to provide a protective shield for progressive causes,” Miss Davis told the conference. Among the immediate pro- grams adopted at the conference was that concerning police bru- tality, presented in a workshop report by the Rev. Al Jordan of Los Angeles. In her keynote address, An- gela Davis gave voice to the overwhelming need for a united defense against repression. “Repression,” she said, “today is more conspicuous than ever before. It is open, it is system- atic and it contains a deadly potential. All around us we see our legitimate movements against an unjust, racist status quo coming under severe attack. Embryonic Fascism “Let this be the thesis of my remarks: The special danger of repression today is the embryo- nic fascism it announces. “The Nixon Administration and those. for whom it speaks are therefore trying to eliminate the existing channels of demo- cratic expression and opposi- tion. And this policy is being carried out by official institu- tions at every level of the soci- ety — by the Supreme Court, by local courts, police departments and prisons.” By S. TOSUNYAN (A commentary on recent agreements between the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany.) Another important stride has been made on the way to norm- alizing relations in the centre of Europe and easing tensions. On May 11 the West German Parliament ratified the treaty on principles of relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic. This document adjusts “on a legal basis the relations between two sovereign German states. At the same time the Bundestag passed a law on the entry of the FRG into the United Nations Organization. The treaty on principles of re- lations between the FRG and the GDR emphasizes that both states preceed in their actions from their responsibility for pre- Mine-Mill Day SUDBURY — Mayor Fabbro has agreed to name May 26 as Mine-Mill Day to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Western Federation of Min- ers and the 30th birthday of the Mine-Mill union at Falconbridge. The announcement was made in the May issue of Mine-Mill Local 598 News and it is report- ed that the local is organizing a day-long program of events to honor its pioneers, with a num- ber of trade union leaders and friends being invited to attend. President Jim Tester com- menting on the event said, “When the union finally made the grade in Sudbury 30 years ago, the working class got off their knees. It was a tremendous thing . . . and it is to recall this history that union is organiz- ing a big celebration. . Rag serving peace, from the aspira- tion of contributing to relaxa- tion- and promoting security in in Europe, and from historically formed conditions. The two countries have stated that they will be guided by the aims and principles laid down in the UN Charter, e.g. the principles of the sovereign equality of all states, respect for their indepen- dence, self-reliance and _ terri- torial integrity, the right to self- determination, observance of hu- man rights, and renunciation of discrimination. A Victory for Peace The ratification of the treaty spells a victory of peace forces on German soil. Due to the pol- icy of outright hostility, which had been pursued for two dec- ades by Christian ~ Democrat- Christian Socalist governments, the two German states had ad- justed no outstanding problem of. any importance. The GDR government, however, continued tireless quests for ways and means of adjusting its relations with the FRG. on the basis of peaceful coexistence principles. These quests were crowned with success after the Brandt- Scheel government came to pow- er in the FRG. It showed real- ism in foreign policy and ac- knowledged the inviolability of postwar frontiers, including that between the GDR and the FRG. The signing, of the Moscow and Warsaw treaties, as well as of the quadripartite agreement on West Berlin, created an en- tirely new. climate favoring the solution of other complex prob- lems. As well, for instance, the GDR and the FRG and the GDR and the West Berlin senate sign- ed a number of important agree- ments. : Later, in May last year, the first treaty since the existence of the two German states was signed in Berlin to adjust the issues of transport communica- tions between the GDR and the FRG. The many-year blockade of the first workers’ and peasants’ state in the history of Germany has broken down once and for all. It is sufficient to say that 82 coun- tries have already established diplomatic relations with the GDR. This was made possible by the coordinated foreign policy of the socialist community. Blockade Broken ‘Reactionary forces in the FRG invested a great deal of. effort to prevent the ratification. We may recall that 217 opposition deputies in the Bundestag voted against the treaty. The whole propaganda mach- ine of the CDU/CSU opposition bloc and Springer’s press launch- ed fierce attacks against this im- portant document, striving to discredit it in the eyes of the population. During the debates in the Bundestag, J. Strauss, the ringleader of the Bavarian ultras, poured out a stream of abuse upon the Brandt-Scheel govern- ment for its having recognized the sovereignty of the GDR and the inviolability of: its borders. However, the efforts of the right-wing opposition ended in failure. Moreover, four. deputies of the CDU/CSU faction refused to submit to Strauss’ dictation and declared that they would vote in support of the treaty. A major scandal broke out in the Christian Democrat camp in connection with the issue of the FRG’s entry into the United Na- - tions. The result was that R. Barzel, the. opposition faction leader, resigned. Ninety-nine CDU/CSU deputies voted with the deputies of the government faction for the bill on the entry of the FRG into the UN. People of goodwill consider the ratification of the treaty on the principles of relations be- tween the GDR and the FRG to be a positive act which serves the interests of peace and co- operation. -PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1973—PAGE 5