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Review

NE rather grisly conclusion
begins to emerge from the
current debate in parliament on
the “to-be-or-not-to-be” of capital

_ punishment as a “deterrent” to

crime; viz., that many professional
politicians have much in common
with the hangman. So much so
that Justice is often compelled to
walk a very tight rope.

On the surface the Tories pose
as benign humanists, people who
are opposed to the barbaric insti-
tution of capital punishment, and
would willingly see it abolished.

Behind this “humanist” window-
dressing, however, we find innu-
merable Tory backbenchers argu-
ing strongly for keeping the
hangman on the public payroll. In
the absence of a direct government
bill calling for the abolition of
capital punishment, this political
strategy serves to project Diefen-
baker and company as great moral
humanists, while at the same time
making sure capital punishment
will be retained to be used if, as

and when political expediency dic-
tates.

This close affinity between cap-
italist politics and the public
executioner was well illustrated in
the case of the much-postponed
execution of the convicted Califor-
nian, Caryl Chessman.

Living in San Quentin’s death
row for, nigh on 12 years, with
innumerable stays of. execution
granted for one reason or another,
the date is finally set for his ren-
dezvous with the state executioner.

Then comes President Eisen-
hower’s coldwar junket to Latin
America, with its urgency to cre-

-ate the proper atmosphere of U.S. »

“humanity,” “peace,” and so on.
On these grounds (shamelessly
admitted), Chessman is given an-
other 60 days of life, and the so-
called “course” of justice side-
tracked in order that Pentagon
coldwar politics may have a
pleasing journey.

As the Comox Free Press blunt-
ly put it, “While Mr. Eisenhower
is making the tour Chessman will
still live and presumably Latin

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EDITORIAL PAGE

America will greet the U.S. presi-
dent with roses in his path and
other symbols of friendship. Once
he- gets home, presumably, the
delay will have served its purpose
and Chessman can die.”

The Chessman case fits the
position of the Diefenbaker gov-
ernment very well in the present
capital punishment debate. On the
surface the Tories, as always, pose
as great humanists, great moral-
ists, ready and willing to see this
atrocious institution abolished. In
reality, however, utilizing every
specious argument and pretense to
assure its retention, not as a de-
terrent to crime (in which it is
already long proven worthless) but
as a medieval instrument of class
suppression.

The difference between Eisen-
hower’s need of a live Chessman
until the conclusion of his Latin
American tour and Diefenbaker’s
“humanism” in respect to the
death penalty, is merely one of
degree. In both cases the hangman
is an important cog in modern
society, serving a political func-
tion. To snuff out the life of an
erring human in keeping with
political expediency — and label
the atrocity as “serving the ends

of Justice.”

“wy

»

AST week the news broke like
, a thunderclap that West Ger-
many, now fully rearmed (inclu-

ding nuclear weapons), had been

negotiating with Butcher Franco
of Spain to set up West German
bases in that country.

‘In the emergence of this pro-
jected Bonn-Madrid Axis, pattern-
ed after the Hitler “anti-comin-
tern” alliance, and for precisely
the same purpose, the nuclear war-
mongers in Washington and Lon-
don are manifesting some alarm.
Not because their Nazi ally Aden-
auer has gone behind their backs
on this foreign ‘bases move, but
because it exposes their complicity
in a monstrous crime.

Only a few days ago Adenauer’s
defense minister, Herr Strauss,
reporting on his “satisfactory”
talks with Franco, declared that
bases in Spain are essential to
West German “living space”. In
this he was supported by NATO’s
commander-in-chief, the U.S. Gen-

‘eral Norstad, the only qualifica-

tion being that Adenauer- should
get his foreign bases by and
through NATO, rather than going-
it-alone.

West Germanys determination
for foreign bases is aimed at
strengthening its war potential, by
getting around any and all pro-

The ‘ends’ of justice No bases—anywhere

visions which (at the moment)
prohibit the Bonn governmel”
from manufacturing its own 1
clear weapons in West Germany:
In Spain, with Franco’s aid, ee
NATO restrictions would prese®
no obstacle. E
On the eve of a Summit mele
designed to lessen world tension |
~ and find a path to lasting pear
the demand must rise from ™ 3
lions of the world’s peoples: 1°
West German bases in Franti
Spain or anywhere else!

Bad policy
T first glance the sale of
A 225,000 tons of coal to the
Japanese steel industry by f
Crow’s Nest Pass Coal Company ®
Fernie looks like a good thing: -
From a short-range angle the
Crow’s Nest - Japan deal looks
attractive. In the longer-range Pe
spective it means a continuatio®
of the Tory-Socred policy of &*
porting our raw resources, P
the jobs that would ensue, were W&
to process the chemicals, steé
and other commodity manufac
tures such resources represent.
But, as Dief and the coal ope

ators say, “Banzai” for a fast
buck, ang “to hell with posterity-

McEwen
Tom.

PRING was: in the air.
S sparkling waters of Golfo
Neuvo beckoned. In search of new
adventure, famed leviathan Moby

' Dick steered his huge -bulk through
the straits, blowing a gusty water
spout as he surged forward.

“Ahoy” shouted the naval look-
out from the crow’s nest of the
Admiral’s flagship, ‘‘submarine
periscope off the port bow.”

His binoculars focussed on a
fine white spray cutting the Golfo’s
blue waters and within easy range,
the Admiral barked an order that
was to stir the world. of cold-
war editorial scribblers... “Clear
decks for action... . gun erews at
their-posis . . . depth charges at
the ready .
marine must. be caught.”

Meantime Moby Dick was. al-
ready galivanting. among the por-
poise senoritas: of -the ~salubrious
inland sea, having a whale of a

tations. of a sub. periscope’ peri-
. scoping. :
Knowing: her old man as’ some-

‘The

. '. Mysterious ~ sub--

time and giving innumerable imi- -

thing of a cut-up when away from

> the home waters, Mrs. Moby Dick

hastened to the scene of his frolics,
determined to put a stop to such
goings-on. To the world of cold-
war humans Mrs. Moby’s recon-
nisance for her old man acted like
an inspiring breeze from the car-
cass of the late John Foster Dulles. -
“Avast there” hailed the lookout -
from the crow’s nest, “another sub-
marine, come to aid the one we’ve
bottled. up. Now there are two.”
In editorial sanctums across the
‘free world’ typewriters rattled and
_presses roared. Moby and the
Missus were making history.
Never a man to let any ‘water
slip under his keel unnoticed, the
Admiral unloaded tons of high ex-
plosives, depth charges, bombs and

- other ‘sonar’ gadgets daily around

the clock: From the flagship and
naval headquarters ashore com- |
muniques rolled out by the yard.
“Mystery submarine trapped,”
“bottled up’,, “at bay,” kaput.
“Sharp lookout maintained for sub
companion . . . all naval and air- ~
‘eraft alerted.” :

From Washington came the news
that the U.S. Navy Department
was forwarding post-haste its latest
“sonar” sub-hunting equipment and
‘know-how. Just a “friendly ges-
ture” to smooth. the path for Ike’s —
coldwar. junket -in Latin America.

Fed -up with an overdose of
.naval firecrackers, plus the con- :

tinued nagging of his spouse to get
back where they belonged; Moby.
Dick headed out to the open sea; —
the old lady following close on his —
tail to see to it that he didn’t —
change his mind. Plowing through

a narrow entrance to Golfo Neuvo, —
poor Moby ‘didn’t even feel up to’ —
another hilarious periscopic spout,’
hence the “mystery” surrounding’ ~
the disappearance of a most “mys-
terious submarine.” The navy had
lost all ‘‘sonar” (or any other con-
tact) with its twin “mysteries.”

Lest it be thought however that
the navy’s. efforts -were totally
fruitless, the high tonnage of dead’
fish, penguins and other flotsam”
and jetsam blasted up from the
depth of Golfo Neuvo, is evidence
to the contrary. The finny carnage
was reported terrific. .

The “mystery submarine” incid-
ent was a 10-day wonder, provid- ~
ing ‘thousands of column feet of
coldwar copy. At no time, (with or
without ‘payola’) would it have’
taxed the genius of the Quiz Kids
to guess the implied ‘origin’ of the
“mysterious submarines” being
blitzed.

But it was a bit trying on the
credulity of the. common -man,: to
say nothing of the inconvenience to,
the famed Moby Dick and his’ faith-
ful better-half, who came on a visit —
more peaceful than Ike’s, only to —
be rewarded- with misplaced hos-
tility. Ty Pest feen 4

March 4, 1960—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—Page

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