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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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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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