Missiles fly over - Canada? OTTAWA Officials of the defense de- partment have admitted here that United States air force in- terceptors. armed with the new atomic rocket weapons would in all probability fly Canada. They claimed, however, that there was “little danger” such a rocket would be fired accidentally. The statement came after an announcement from Wash- ington that the U.S. is prepar- ing to use high altitude atomic explosions against enemy bombers. Such weapons~ are now being stockpiled near ma- jor cities, the Washington re- port said. American base nearest to Canada is Niagara Falls, N.Y. Whether such weapons will be stored at other U.S. bases in Canada, such as Labrador, Newfoundland and Churchill, where the U.S. is also experi- menting with guided missiles is not known. U.S. officials minimized the danger from. stored atomic weapons, either from explos- lon through sudden contact or from radiation. In the House of Commons on February 21, Defense Min- ister Ralph Campney said these weapons “would not be tested” over Canada. They would be used only in a case of “grave emergency” he declared. He said he had been incon- sultation with U.S. authori- ties and had been assured that safety devices to prevent ac- over Gigantic rally backs Sukarno DJAKARTA ” An estimated 1,500,000 peo- ple demonstrated before Mer- deka Palace here recently sup- porting President Sukarno’s program of political reform. The demonstration presented to Sukarno a statement en- dorsing his proposal to form a national council and a mu- tual-assistance cabinet eom- prising all national forces. ~The president said that the ideals of the Indonesian Re- public had not yet been fully realized and the revolution was not yet accomplished be- cause the democratic system hitherto exercised in this country was western democ- racy which was inconsistent with the Indonesian people’s spirit. He said that Indonesia needed a democracy of its own, which was to incorpor- ate all parties and groups into a big family @nd form a mu- tual assistance cabinet. Sukarno reiterated that he was not partial to any group but wanted all groups to be seated around one table. Revo- lutionary unity was an indis- pensable condition in build- ing up a society of justice and prosperity, he said. atomic missiles, rockets and pilotless bombers are being stored and tested at U.S. bases in many countries — including; bases near this country. Guided cidental discharge were ade- quate. But from Almagordo, New Mexico, U.S. atomic weapons testing site, it was announced the same day that a guided mis- sile had “roared eut of con- trol” and its impact was un- known. When last seen it was headed north-westerly —to- wards Salt Lake City and pos- sibly the Canadian border. The British Labor party last week demanded a national inquiry into what ™ poorest people of Britain ought to have in the way of minimum physical standaté The demand came from Hilary Marquand, MP, moving the Opposition moti) asking for higher pensions and insurance benefits in the House of Commons. “The must be a closer relation in future between pensions and the level of wages, he said. There were now 927,000 old age pensioners drawing nation- al assistance. This was enough to justify a rise in pensions in this year’s budget, he said. “The prime minister and his colleagues must have been thinking about the budget when they met at Chequers. It would be an outrage if... next April there were to be yet_another handout to income tax and surtax payers but nothing done for the poorest of the poor.” The prices of bread and milk —the two foods most import- ant in the diets of poor people —had been increased by de- liberate action of the govern- ment and before long pension- ers’ difficulties would be fur- ther increased by higher rents and rates. “Ts it reasonable or sensible to tell these people to be pa- tient and wait until the bud- get of 1958 before they can get any alleviation?” “J believe that in future there must be a closer rela- tion between pensions and the level of wages. Pensions can- not always be left lagging be- hind,” said Marquand. “In December 1956 there were 1,656,000 weekly assist- ance allowances current. Tak- ing into account wives and chil- dren and,other dependants, it means that well over two mil- lion, perhaps nearly 2,500,000, of Britain’s population are de- pendent on national assist- ance.” “We want an inquiry made into what the poorest people in Britain ought to have in the way of ‘minimum «physical standards. We want that laid Pensioners warn MPs their stand watched LONDON Not for many a long year have the lobbies of the British parliament seen such a people’s deputation as that which fill- ed them on February 26, D- Day for Britain’s old folk. The spokesmen of Scotland's mighty labor movement — trade ~ unions, co-op societies and other groups — backed by hundreds of Londoners served notice on the government: “Our old people worked to make this country rich — now give them a square deal.” A Pensions Campaign Spe- cial train brought the work- ers’ organized power to Lon- don into the struggle to win a decent life for five million’ old age pensioners. Eleven Labor MPs who met the delegates at the House of Commons were told of old age pensioners’ difficulties. Champions of the old folk inside the House of Commons, including two women MPs, Mrs. Alic Cullen and Mrs. PRUDHAM REPRESENTS CANADA Gold Coast becomes sovereign state of Ghana On Wednesday this week, a new nation was born, the na- tion of Ghana on the east coast of Africa. Out of a popu- lation of 4,600,000, all but 13,- 000 are Africans. March 6 was chosen as inde- pendence day, because it was on March 6, 1884, that Britain imposed the first robber treaty on the coastal chiefs, to carve out a colony that became known as the Gold Coast. Under the new constitution, Ghana (pronounced Chan-e- ah) will be an independent member of the British Com- monwealth. Sovereign power will be vested in a single _ chamber house of 104 members elected by universal suffrage. The cabinet will be respon- sible to the asembly. Five regional administra- tions, each with an elected house, will be established. In addition, Houses of Chiefs will be set up to give scope to the present tribal organizations and the office of chief will be guaranteed “as existing by law and custom.” Full rights will be guaran- teed to all citizens, without distinction of race, sex or re- ligion. _ British property owners, a tiny minority who control a large segment of the country’s wealth, have been successful in imposing one limitation on the new constitution. There can be no acquisition of prop- erty by act of parliament “save under law” and only “after payment of adequate compen- sation.” This illustrates the fact that the winning of for- mal independence is only the beginning, and not the end. Ghana, which is about the size of Britain, is economical- ly dominated by foreign capi- tal. Of the 13 insurance agen- cie, 11 are agents of British companies. Of the 13 shipping! companies, three are British and three are American. Of the four oil companies, two are American, one is British and one is Portugese. All 11 im- port firms are British. After 70 years of British oc- LONDO® | down by an authoritative Cr mission and an index ba) upon those lines.” The Opposition motion was defeated by 306 votes to 252 Lena Jeger had put down the red carpet. They invited 150 of the d& gates into the grand commitl®), room of the House 10 ne their demand for a £3 % age pension now. ; Scots delegates came out ' : the meeting in the House Commons attended by evel Scottish MP and several Lo. don MPs with their pledge ™ wholehearted support for th higher pensions campaign. ‘ Earlier in the day five 5 ‘had handed in a petition wi 225,000 signatures at No. Downing Street. el Leaders of the National F " eration of Old Age Pensi? Associations have called ° all their 1,600 branches to f#, their MPs with the questi’ “Are you for higher pensi? or not?” j 7 If not, warned Ernest Bl ling, national secretary of © federation, they should 1 out for their seats at the 1 general election. aN : : icin With trade union back™ it5) the federation believes that petition for higher pensl@ will win some three mil}! signatures. one doctor for every 2 people and one dental surge? for every 700,000. ai Federal Mines Minist®” George Prudham will repr sent Canada at the week-lo”’ independence celebratio?” The Duches of Kent will rep resent the crown and Colo! Secretary Alan. Lennox-B2 4 will represent the British aa ernment. Vice-President RiC,| ard Nixon will represent tH U.S. | Vice-Premier Nieh Jush) chen will represent the nese People’s Republic. Gold Coast government sel special invitation to the nese government, cupation, the country has a ? ~nO Se Se MARCH 8, 1957 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PAG