6 MUNN TTT COwCiCPDina ATMA CTT IUAUITTTO RL TUTTLE ONTOS WHAT DO YOU THINK ? O pinions contained in these columns are sirictly those of the writers. We welcome correspondence, but ask that letters be held to 300 words. Aid to China J. E. Boyd, Vancouver, writes: Judging from the paliry con- tribution to the China War Re- lief Fund in the present cam- paign, the people of this prov- ince, who have given so gener- ously to China in the past, have not responded so readily to this latest appeal. Yet the need for aid is even greater after seven years-of war in China. Though dt is difficult for Canadians so far removed from the scene of slaughter to vividly picture the mass misery and horror, yet the wide publication of the fact that millions of Chinese have been butchered, millions starved and millions homeless, should be enough to convince all of the ur- gent need for aid. Some years ago the Japanese eonsul had such powerful influ- ence here he forced the banning of a film depicting some of the carnage in China. A few months later at a small hall on Hastings street I saw a film, however, in which after the sack of several big cities bodies of the dead and wounded were stacked in the Streets. The Japanese fascists poured gas or kerosene on these and set them afire and one could see legs and arms moving. Yes, and it is a certainty similar tort- ures would have prevailed here if the Chinese people had not waged their lone struggle against the armies of Japan. The Chinese people invariably respond generously to every Red Cross, Victory Loan and all types of financial drives that we make. They are not now asking, “Brother, can you spare a dime?” for it is we who are indebted to them In my opinion, the drive to aid China, yes, and Russia, has not been started yet and the de- mand should be made upon our government for the daily ship- ment of a million dollars’ worth of war material and wheat to each of the two countries that are doing the heaviest fighting. Hits Tom Reid Scotsman, writes: In a speech he made to the Kiwanis Club this week, Tom Reid, MP for New Westminster, is reported to haye attacked those—and that means most of the people—who clamor for a second front in Europe. I feel that his statements should be re- futed .They certainly do not re- fiect the general opinion among working people in this city. Tom Reid is noted, if for any- thing, as a rank apologist for the Liberal government's policies, re- gardless of what those policies may be, and for his bagpipe play- ing. It would, of course, be better if he confined himself to the bag- pipe playing, but since he insists on remaining in politics and the people of this constituency have THE PEOPLE Published every Friday by The People Publishing Co., Rm. 104, Shelly Bldg., 119 West Pender St, Vancouver, B.C. Tele. MAr. 6929. New Westminster, Wiitor 2 eS al Griffin Managing Editor _. Al Parkin Business Mgr. __ Minerva Cooper Six Months: $1.00 One Year: $2.00 Printed at Broadway Printers, Ltd., 151 East 8th Ave., Vancouver, B.C. RT TT Zi “fe 7 Ta a ys 7 ates t & * BOW LAY pts TeRo™) as yet been unable to prevent him from displaying his singular lack of ability to represent their interests in this field, the least they can do is to make it clear that he does not speak for them. Tom Reid contends that those who clamor for a second front do not properly appreciate the fact that Britain in 1940 stood alone against Nazi Germany and that if Britain had fallen then the Soviet Union might have gone down to defeat when the Nazi armies turned east See ETRE SET TS IT FES seater ease “The second front cry smacks more of politics than practicabil- ity as we must realize that while Russia is fighting one foe, her Allies are battling two opponents and thereforé are engaged in a global war,” he is reported to have said. Actually, a lot of this is beside the point. None appreciates bet- ter the effect upon the war of their determined stand in 1940 when Britain was threatened with invasion than the British people themselyes—and nowhere is the Books and People by Kay Gregory EEE Ee ESPITE determined attempts to prevent sale of Under Y Cover, by John Roy Carlson, the publishers, E. P. Dutton and Company, tinuing publication— any attempted standing”—and making a firm stand “against with freedom of the press.” The book, an expose of fascists and pro-fascists in the United States, has already gone to six printings and is rapidly creeping up to the top of best-seller lists to the chagrin of newspaper pub- lisher Frank E. Gannett and Frank E. Kemp, both of whom have threatened libel suits against any bookseller handling Carlson’s expose. Both have reason to fear its publication. Gannett’s organiza- tion was formerly headed by Dr. E. A. Rumely, indicted as a Ger- man agent in the last war, and Kemp was head of the notorious Constitutional Educational League, whose bulletin was listed by the United States government in connection with the indict- ment of thirty-three persons for sedition. Sales of Under Cover are phen- omenal despite well organized attempts to -discredit it One dealer in Chicago reported con- tinuous calls, for a period of three days, at two-hour intervals from various individuals who came to his bookstore, asked if he expected to handle the book and then told him what a “hor- rible” and “un-American” book it was. Another bookseller said every other person entering her store asked for it. All stores sold Inc., have announced their intention of con- intimidation notwith- out and were urgently wiring for more. Reviewing the book recently in New Masses, Joseph North re- commended it for all readers, al- though the author apparently has a few wrong notions about the Marxist program in America. Naturally, any fascist organiza- tion in the United States must have its influence and even sphere of operations in Canada. This was shown by a similar book reviewed in these pages some months ago, Sabotage, by Michael Sayers and Albert E. Kahn. Another booklet to read in con- junction with these, which gives an even clearer picture of the dangers Canadians must watch for, is Hitler’s 5th Column in Quebec, by Fred Rose, M.P.-elect for Montreal-Cartier, wwho has a thorough knowledge of the in- sidious workings of fascists among the French Canadians. Two more good films from books will be coming out of Hol- lywood very soon if all goes well. Howard Fast has gone there to superintend production of his book, Citizen Tom Paine, another best-seller, and this fall, Para- mount will release a production of Hostages, by Stepan Heym, a film which according to all ac- counts has caught the spirit of the novel perfectly. interference LETTERS from OUR READERS A NLA LTT demand for a second front more insistently raised than in Britain. But what has this to do with the military realities today? The British people—and the Canadian people—are calling for a second front because they realize that it presents a great opportunity for decisive victory now. Everyone understands that this is a global war and the eastern front, which engages the main Nazi armies that might otherwise be used against the Allies elsewhere, is still the decisive front These other minor fronts (with the ex- ception of the Pacific fronts against Japan) of which Tom Reid speaks, will collapse and eease to exist when a major front is opened in western Europe. Tom Reid should be the last to talk about campaigns that smack of politics. His campaigns never smack of anything else. However, at the next federal election I believe that the voters of New Westminster federal con- stituency will retire him to an obscurity commensurate with his many years of futility in politics. As a Scotchman, I like bagpipe” music, but I see no point in send- ing a man to Ottawa to practice at the expense of his constituents and, if all the reports I have heard are true, at-the expense of those whose rooms are close to his in the Parliament building. Correction Tom Barnard, Vancouver, writes: In a news item last week you stated that “the Mobilization Board” refused to grant an exit permit to Walter Yates, of Port Alberni, president of Local 1-85 of the International Woodwork- ers of America, in order to at- tend the international convention at Sacramento, California. This is not correct. The Mobilization Board has nothing to do with the granting of exit permits. This is the responsibility of Justice A. MM. Manson, who is also chairman of the board. Recreation : A. Vancouver housewife writes: As a mother of two highschool age children, and of a son of cighteen now employed in Van- couyer shipyards, I was particu- larly interested in the announce- ment this week that a conference of trade unionists, parents, teach- ers and social workers has been called to consider questions of recreation and education in war- time. I am sure that every citi- zen realizes that these questions are among the mosi important that face us on the home front today. With great numbers of our young people taking their places in the adult world of wartime in- dustry, and with other, younger people taking part-time work in stores and restaurants after school and on Saturdays, the need for planned recreation is constantly . prowing. In my opinion, no moth- er should object to her sons and part-time work to release an adult for more important duties. At the same time, we realize that their fu- must be carefully guarded by a little foresight now. Healthy young minds and bodies daughters accepting ture lives demand fun and excitement. It is our job to see that the fun and excitement comes in a rather than a de- constructive, structive, form. The question of education also merits much consideration. Many young people have left school before they naturally would n= peace time to go to work. I be- lieve there should be some pro- vision made for them to continue Opportunities for vocational specialization, for dra- matic, musical, and technical edu- cation should be made available their studies. to as many as possible. | Short Jabs ‘Is It Propaganda? | A HEADLINE in the New York Worker started a discussion in a local restaurant a few days ago. During the discussion, another from International Literature, was quoted. The first headline ran “Nazis Murder 100 Mothers and Children in Sixty Days at Gomel” That from International Litera- ture read, “53 Heroes Tortured to Death by Germans.” es These are only a record of what may be called minor incidents in the long catalogue of horror imposed on the Nazi oceupied territories during the last four years. os A But, according to one of the disputants, this is all Stalin's propaganda, part of a_ political blitz against Germany similar ta all war propaganda of the past The Germans, he contended, are no different to any other people If this were only one man’s opinion it would hardly warrant an answer here, but there are | no doubt many others who sin | cerely believe it to be true anc: there are the enemies of the So | viet Union who use just the same arguments to advance their fas cist views. q Regarding the atrocities com mitted by the German soldiery or individuals and the attempted ex termination of whole peoples — Jews, Poles and Russi : are so well attested from inde pendent sources and are so mucl in line with Hitler’s proclaimer — policies and the prewar record of the German army that oni need not have a vivid imagina tion to believe them. Read “Meir Kampf” for one thing! AS read Engels for another Writing about the France Prussian war in the Pall Mal Gazette of November 11, 1870, b said: “There is a belt of disputer ground all around the Germai positions and it is just there tha: popular resistance is most sé verely felt. And to put down thi: popular resistance the German are having recourse to a code 0 warfare as antiquated as it 1 barbarous. They are acting upoi the rule that every town or vil lage where one or more of thi inhabitants take part in the de fense, fire upon their troops generally assist the French, is te be burned down; that every mal taken in arms who is not, accord ing to their notion, a regular ‘sol dier, is to be shot at once; ant that where there is reason TK believe that any considerable portion of the population of t town have been guilty of some such offense, all the able-bodiec men are to be massacred at once This system has now been ruth lessly carried out for nearly si weeks and is still in full force And it is at the same time tu! and false that the Germans at no different to any other people But Prussianism and Nazism have corrupted them. They can be cured of this, however. Under Tsarist rule in Russie poproms were common. The: were committed by the same’ typ! of beast who commits Nazi airoc ities. Twenty-five years after thi revolution in Russia, the Sovie state has produced a new peopl and there are no pogroms. :