COMMONWEALTH TALKS Diefenbaker Increased Prestige In London

Press, Volume C, Issue 29470, 23 March 1961, Page 8

COMMONWEALTH TALKS Diefenbaker Increased Prestige In London

[Specially written ]or the N.Z.P.A. by MELVIN SUFRIN] TORONTO, March 21. Mr John Diefenbaker has returned from the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ conference in London with substantially increased prestige in the eyes of fellow Canadians of all political hues.

There was little outright jubilation in this country over the fact that South Africa had decided to withdraw its application for readmission to the Commonwealth. That was too serious a development to be a cause for unbridled happiness. But there was considerable satisfaction that the Canadian Prime Minister had seen fit to take a stand in favour of the principle that the British family of nations is a multiracial society opposed to racial discrimination. The measure of approval of bis position is indicated by the favourable reaction from all Opposition parties in Parliament and by editorials such as the one in the Toronto “Star,” which is ordinarily a bitter critic of the policies of the Progressive Conservative Government, “In the drama played out in London. Prime Minister Diefenbaker has played a role of which Canadians can be proud.” the “Star” said. Two other politically independent newspapers were among many which praised 'him. The Winnipeg “Tribune” said: “Prime Minister Diefenbaker spoke well for Canada in not allowing the issue to become befuddled with compromise. Asiatic and African members require a clear declaration on the equality of man. White members needed it too.” The “Free Press” of London, Ontario, said: “If Prime Minister Difenbaker is responsible for the way things turned out he deserves credit. It would have been difficult and embarrassing to throw South Africa out of the club. It would have been even more embarrassing to have a South Africa which made a bitter mockery of everything the Commonwealth stands for to remain inside.” S.A. CHARGES Some members of the South African Government have suggested that Mr Diefenbaker took his stand because of the favour he might find

in Canada’s press and of the votes he might win in the next General Election. Such charges are unlikely to be taken seriously in Canada, where even those who disagree with Mr Diefenbaker’s policies concede that he is devoted to the cause of civil liberties and deplores South Africa's apartheid policy. While his sincerity in this cause is out of question it does not change the fact that his political popularity has risen. His followers hold all but 56 seats in the 265-mem-ber House of Commons as a result of the 1958 landslide victory. The new election is likely to be held later this year or early in 1962. Under ordinary conditions a majority of that size would seem to ensure an easy victory the next time he goes to the people, but several factors have complicated the situation and public opinion polls indicate that Conservative popularity has dropped sharply in the last year while the Liberals’ stock has risen. UNEMPLOYMENT

There is apparently a growitig feeling that the Government has not made a dynamic enough effort to deal with the serious unemployment problem. In the predominantly French-speak-ing Quebec Province, Liberals won power last year after more th’an two decades in opposition. There were indications that the tide had turned against the Conserva-

tives on the Federal level there as well and since Quebec is the key province this could be decisive in a General Election.

The Liberals also won election last year in neighbouring New Brunswick and the Conservatives now hold power only in four provinces—Ontario, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The Conservatives’ national victory three years ago was largely carried by Mr Diefenbaker’s own strong personality. He captured the imagination of many Canadians who felt it was time for a change anyway after many years of Liberal administration, but in recent months the Conservatives have been fearful that the personal image of their leader might be wearing thin. Though Conservative followers in Parliament were properly subdued during his speech last Friday night on his return from London they were privately delighted that he had been able to take a stand on the racial question so obviously in line with the sympathies of the great bulk of Canadians. “Still Fighting Boer War” (N.Z.P.A .-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON. March 21. The former Bishop of Johannesburg, the Rt. Rev. Ambrose Reeves, told a meeting in London last night that Dr. Verwoerd's Government was “still fighting the Boer War” with Britain. He said he thought the only chance of a change in the South African Government’s apartheid policy was through a crack in the Nationalist Party. “I don’t think there is the slightest chance of a change in South Africa’s Government by ordinary democratic processes,” he said. “Ghana Would Have Left” ■ (NZ.P.A .^Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, March 21. Ghana would have withdrawn from the Commonwealth if South Africa had insisted on remaining a member, the Ghanian Foreign Minister, Mr Ako Adjei, said last night when he arrived in New York to head his nation’s delegation at the United Nations. “There was not a single Premier in the Commonwealth who agreed with apartheid,” he told reporters.