Liberals Criticise Canadian Stand

Press, Volume C, Issue 29621, 18 September 1961, Page 11

Liberals Criticise Canadian Stand

(N.Z Press Association—Copyrtyht) OTTAWA, September 16. The Canadian Liberal Opposition Leader (Mr Lester Pearson) suggested to the Prime Minister (Mr Diefenbaker) last night that he tell his Ministers of Trade and Finance to “stop squealing” about Britain’s move toward the Common Market. He said they were squealing before Canada was hurt.

He was referring, In the House of Commons, to reports of statements made by Trade Minister (Mr George Hees) and the Finance Minister (Mr Donald Fleming) at the Commonwealth economic conference this week in Accra, Ghana, Canadian Press reported. Mr Pearson asjced whether the statements attributed to the two Ministers at the Accra conference were approved in advance by the Canadian Government. Mr Diefenbaker replied he had been unable to obtain a copy of them. The Prime Minister added that throughout the years the Progressive’ Conservative Party had stood for a strong Commonwealth when “others" in the Commons did not hold that view.

(At Accra, Mr Fleming was reported to have said Britain's relationship with the Commonwealth would never be the same again if it joined the Common Market. Mr Hees warned that such a union might weaken Commonwealth ties.) “Will the Prime Minister instruct the Ministers concerned to stop their public squealing before Canada is hurt?” Mr Pearson demanded. Mr Diefenbaker said he had seen similar statements by Mr Pearson to which the same term might be applied.

Would the Prime Minister, asked Mr Pearson, consider it proper if the United Kingdom “indulged in the same kind of public criticism of Canadian policy that,Canadian Ministers now are aiming publicly at the United Kingdom Government policy

on a matter so politically controversial?” Mr Diefenbaker said: “Our desire is not in any way to interfere with the right of any other member of the Commonwealth to determine the course it will take, any more than other parts of the Commonwealth can determine ours.” He added: “However, we have the right among ourselves to point out the potential or possible effects of the action of any members of the Commonwealth on the other members of it. “Our desire is a strong and effective Commonwealth and to that end are our purposes directed and our representations made ”

Trading Pattern Another Liberal member asked whether it was the Government’s view that any effort by a Commonwealth member to change its trading pattern placed the Commonwealth itself in jeopardy. Mr Diefenbaker replied: "Each member of the Commonwealth may ‘take the course it desires at all time, giving the fullest consideration. as Mr Macmillan said would be the fact, to the effect it would have on other members of the Commonwealth.”

As a follow-up to the Accra conference, detailed consultations were due to start in London next week between officials of Britain and other Commonwealth countries on the possibility of joining the Common Market. The Canadian Deputy Trade Minister (Mr James Roberts) would head the Canadian delegation, C.P. reported.