Organized Labor

IN TORONTO, NOV. 14 Multinational threat

world parley theme

_ The peoples of the world face a common danger, whether they

live in an underdeveloped or a developed country. They are threatened by the awesome concentration of economic, political and military power in the hands of the multinational corporations.

There is a growing awareness of the menace of these cor- porations by peoples and by governments. Only the united action of the peoples of the world can stand up to them.

As a step toward this unity of action, the World Peace Council, in Collaboration with the Canadian Peace Congress, the Conseil Quebecois de la Paix and other participating organizations, are Calling a World Conference on Multinationals to take place in’ Toronto, Canada on November 14, 15, 16, 1975, at the Medical Sciences Building, University of Toronto.

This conference is aimed at untangling, in a definitive way, the

Many, myths that have grown up around the phenomena of the’ trans-global operations of these multinational corporations. We want to place particular emphasis upon discovering and exposing the activities of these corporations that lead to war. We want to Stress the impact of the multinationals on sovereignty and, economic independence. We want to show how the lives of all the peoples are affected by the decisions of multinationals regarding investment, markets, labor forces and resource development. -

We believe that there is an alternative to the domination of our lives by thesé multinationals. We see this conference as not only a forum for discussion, not only as an opportunity to add to our un- derstanding of how multinationals operate, but above all, this 4 world conference must lay the basis for a concrete planned action on a world scale by the peace forces of the world, as an opening step in a campaign to counter the awesome power of these multinational

‘Corporations, says a Peace Congress release.

Trident base gets OK from U.S. judge

‘NEW OPPORTUNITIES’

Helsinki parley hailed as major peace advance

Hailing the recent Helsinki conference on European Security and Cooperation as ‘‘a significant step forward’’ in the fight for peace, the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Canada, released the following statement on August 14:

The European Conference on Security and Cooperation marks a significant step forward in. the struggle to bring about a lasting peace in Europe. The Communist Party of Canada welcomes. this historic event as a major con- tribution to the cause of peace and ’ security.

The 10-point program adopted by the 35 countries which participated in the Conference is in truth a European Charter of Peace, a long step away from the bankrupt imperialist policy of confrontation and cold war, and a major step forward in the consolidation of the principles of peaceful coexistence and equal cooperation between States of different social systems.

These principles uphold the inviolability of frontiers established as a result of the

“Second World) War and _ the territorial integrity of States. They uphold sovereign rights, pledge

- non-interference in. the internal

affairs of other countries and the right of each country and people to determine their own destiny. They renounce the use of force or the threats of force to change existing borders. They~ pledge _ the signatories to develop and expand cooperation in trade, industry, science, culture and other areas.

They uphold respect for human. :

rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.

The outcome of the Conference is

-a gain for peace and security.

It is a tribute to the Soviet Union and socialist-states, to Communist and ‘Workers parties, to the peace movements throughout the world —and to capitalist spokesmen and states — allof whom contributed to the successful outcome of the Conference.

The task now is to implement the principles which the Canadian government, like the 34 other governments, signed and pledged to uphold.

It will require great effort and consistent struggle to achieve this,

-in face of the continuing effort of

the cold warriors and the Maoists to. undermine these agreements and bring the world back to cold war positions.

Prior to the Conference these cold warriors and the Maoists did everything to prevent it from taking place. When it took place they stated nothing positive would come out of it. After it was over

Drawing by N. Viasenkov .

they claimed the main beneficiary of the Conference was the Soviet Union. The truth is of course that the victors were peace and security, that all countries and peoples gained from the Con- ference.

This is as true for Canada as for all other countries. The Canadian people and Canada which twice was involved’ in world wars emanating from Europe, and from German imperialism and fascism in particular, cannot but feel more secure as a consequence of the results of this historic Conference.

The most urgent task now is to go over from.- political detente to military detente — i.e. — to balanced, mutual reduction in armaments and armed forces in Central Europe on a basis which ensures the security of all coun-

. tries. This first step should be part

of a process of disarmament, in- cluding nuclear disarmament,

_which leads to an end to the arms

race, the achievement of general and complete disarmament and an end to the divisions of Europe into opposing military blocs.

The process of detente must be extended to the entire world so as to strengthen peace and security on a world scale.

The Communist Party of Canada calls upon the labor and democratic movement, the peace movement in Canada, all true patriots, to work for the im- plementation of the principles and agreements arrived at in the Helsinki Conference. These principles not only uphold peace and security; they also create most favorable conditions for democratic advance, social progress and the achievement of Canadian independence. By ending the arms race and Canada’s membership in NATO, inflation can be more effectively tackled and funds presently used for destructive purposes can be used to create jobs and advance the well-being of the Canadian people.

The Communist Party of Canada calls upon the government not to give way to the pressures of the

:cold warriors, to the industrial

military complex in Canada and in the U.S.A., and to work systematically to uphold the 10 principles and implement them together with all the signatories to the Final Act. It calls upon the government to support proposals for a United Nations World Disarmament Conference and measures leading to disarmament on the basis of security for all countries.

The European Conference on Security and Cooperation has opened up new opportunities to resolve the’ central problem of today — the consolidation of peace and security on a world-wide scale. The prospects of achieving this are more favorable, due to the changing. balance of forces on a world scale in favor of peace, in- dependence and socialism. At the same time, imperialism has not changed. The tendency toward war and aggression continue as before. Therefore vigilance and a con- tinued and ever widening struggle for peace remains a central task for Communists and _ non- communists alike.

In a far-reaching decision that May have a detrimental effect on Movements in the U.S: to protect

€ environment, a U.S. district Court judge last week ruled that Military considerations outweigh €nvironmental factors, and rejected a suit that sought to block the building of the Trident nuclear Sub missile base at. Bangor,

ashington.

Turning aside considerations of Protecting the environment, Judge

orge Hart said in his 85-page

“€cision that ‘some changes, even Major changes in the environment, ey be required for the survival of he republic.’’ Environmental Soups may appeal the decision, if

N-appeal is possible, because of:

Srowing opposition to the Trident Se in the U.S., and because of the Sweeping Character of the decision. he court action to stop the Tident base from being built was yunched by a coalition of en- (tonmental groups called

-Oncerned About Trident.’’ It. be kK about one year for the issue to decided. While opposed to the "ident base, these groups sought © block construction. by the

_area selected on the Hood Canal on

-harm: to the environment.

‘man.

each, with 24 warheads, giving

anti-environmenta its objective.

~ warheads of the most accurate and

Pentagon on the ground that the

Puget Sound would bring widest

As the court action .was proceeding, the U.S. navy pushed hei & ahead with construction of the Me as Pee AS -base, which is only 60 miles from Victoria and about 100 miles from Vancouver. The base is expected to ~ house 10 Trident subs which are the most sophisticated ‘‘strike first” nuclear weapons ever devised by

Operating through the Straits of —

Juan de Fuca, the Trident subs, which are twice the size of a football field, will carry 24 missiles

each sub the striking power of 576 missiles able to hit a target 6,000 miles away within 10 to 12 yards of

The 10 subs between them will carry approximately 5,760

devastating velocity. Spread out

the Pacific region and | — : ne , bi ee Ocean, the fleet of 10 subs For the first time in the history of the European continent the heads of 35 countries gathered to discuss vital

will be able to devastate most problems of pens security and cooperation in Europe. Photo shows the official opening of the historic populated centres of Asia and parley.

Europe. PACIFIC TRIBUNE—AUGUST 29, 1975—Page 3