Nuclear base makes B.C. top target

MENAG

FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1963 VOL. 24, NO. 26

VANCOUVER, B.C.

First woman cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova (left) is shown being

greeted by delegates at the World Congress of Women which

opened in Moscow Monday. She was showered with

gifts and

flowers by the delegates. In a message of greetings to the Con- gress, Soviet Premier Khrushchev urged the women of the world

to unite for peace.

Ratepayers condemn city real estate deal

Irate Vancouver ratepayers got n their licks at City Council Mon- day when 700 people jam packed the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for a public hearing on the Webb and Knapp Coal Harbor Development.

Opposition to the giant real est- ate deal joined with boiling anger Over tax boosts on West End and other property in Vancouver to Produce one of the stormiest council meetings in the history of Vancouver.

Mayor Rathie, who tried to

choke off opposition to the scheme in the morning was met with near pandemonium and had _ to ‘beat a humiliating retreat from his dic- tatorial threat that the hearing was going to be rammed through in three hours.

A second session was called for the evening lasting from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. when an additional 650 attended. ‘

Summarising the main points of opposition to the Webb and See RATEPAYERS. pg. 3

OMOX A-BASE E TOB.C.

The announcement from Ottawa that plans are ready to build five nuclear

storage dumps, including one at Comox on Vancouver Island, shows how quickly the minority Liberal government is moving to turn Canada into an advanced U.S. nu- clear war base. Only last week the RCAF disclosed an agreement with the U.S. Air Force to turn over 22 Canadian air bases for U.S. jets.

The announcement from Ottawa that negotiations are moving quickly towards a pact with the U.S., which will virtually turn Canada into a nuclear base for the Pentagen, makes a mockery of Canada’s national holiday on July 1. Canada’s very survival as an independent nation is being placed in jeopardy.

Under questioning in Parlia- ment Tuesday, Prime Minister Pearson admitted that an agree- ment to place nuclear arms in Canada and in the hands of Canadian overseas forces is im- minent. All nuclear weapons will be manned by U.S. personnel and be under strict U.S. control.

The announcement from Ottawa that the Federal budget includes a $7 million item for the building of nuclear ammunition dumps in Canada brought quick condemna- tion.

BLOW TO PEACE

B.C. Peace Council chairman L. Gardner said ‘‘Ottawa’s de- cision to construct storage dumps for nuclear weapons at Comox, B.C., and other points across Canada, is a crippling blow to Canada’s effectiveness in working for an end to the arms race.”’

Gardner said, ‘““The presence of these deadly weapons on our soil will cut Canada’s ties with the non-nuclear nations, which, act- ing together, are a formidable bulwark against the outbreak of thermonuclear war.”

B.C. A-TARGET

In a special statement released Tuesday night B.C. Communist Party leader Nigel Morgan said

IS AVE COLUMBIAI PARLEY MEETS

The Columbia River for Can- ada conference opened in the Vancouver Hotel Wednesday night with a wire from Gen. A.L.G. McNaughton saying he stood firm by his former posi- tion, and expressed the “hope the Committee will have every success in persuading people of B.C. to reject the disastrous Diefenbaker - Bennett proposed treaty.”

The parley is called to or- ganize a campaign to save the Columbia for Canada and is expected to launch a mass postcard drive. The PT will carry a full report next week.

CANADA

DAY

EDITION

the placing of nuclear arms at Comox ‘‘Will make our province, and particularly the southwestern section a prime military target should thermonuclear war break out. It will mean a further big step in the loss of Canadian in- dependence,”

Morgan charged that the plan to stockpile nuclear weapons in Canada and to station U.S. mili- tary personnel “is a direct and contemptuous violation of the will of the Canadian people as ex- pressed in the April 8 election.”’

“We want no part of U.S. brink. manship; No nuclear bases on Canadian soil; No foreign troops operating from our country. We

want out from NORAD and NATO and the mad war scheming they encompass,” said Morgan.

URGES PUBLIC PROTEST

He called for the widest and strongest expression of opposition to nuclear arms and said ‘“‘Ken nedy and Pearson can be stop- ped in their tracks by an aroused and determined people.’’

Morgan urged that no stone be left unturned to halt the mad plan to turn B.C. into a nuclear zone. “We must give the Pearson min- ority government no quarter on this issue and strengthen the de- mand for new national policies of neutrality, disarmament and peaceful relations with all coun- tries.

“Peace is our only defence to- day. It is Canada’s greatest need, and we must not allow the Pear- son government to jeopardize it,” concluded Morgan.

It was indicated Wednesday that NDP MP Colin Cameron, who rep- resents the Nanaimo riding on Vancouver Island, will raise the question of the Comox base in Parliament.

ir Se

Strike deadline Friday

This was the scene last May 16 when Longshoremen in Vancouver

rt TRAINS

downed tools for two hours to emphasize their demands for a fair deal on the waterfronts of B.C. This week, it was reported that the ILWU had set a strike deadline for Friday, June 28. As the PT went to press, last minute negotiations were still being held. (See story

on Page 12.)

Day B.C. entered Confederation —?g.5

Labor must fight for its heritage

—Pg. 6