Diefenbaker Steps Aside

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30106, 15 April 1963, Page 9

Diefenbaker Steps Aside

IK Z. Preu Association—Copyright)

OTTAWA, April 13. The Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Diefenbaker, with the defeat of his Conservative administration confirmed

by Canada’s armed service voters, agreed today to step aside in favour of a new Liberal Government headed by Mr Pearson, U.P.I. reported.

Mr Diefenbaker, aged 67. made the formal concession, ending the political uncertainty after last Monday’s national election, in a telegram offering to meet Mr Pearson to discuss “the date of the change-over of Government.”

Mr Pearson, aged 65 a former Minister of External Affairs and Nobel Peace Prize winner quickly agreed to the meeting on Monday in the Prime Minister's office.

Barring any unexpected development, it seemed certain Mr Pearson would become Canada's fourteenth Prime Minister by mid-week Canada's armed service voters endorsed Mr Pearson's pro-nuclear stand by giving the Liberals 70.5 per cent, of their ballots compared with only 20.5 per cent, for Mr Diefenbaker's Conservatives The brief exchange between the two political rivals took place minutes after the ballots of about 96.000 servicemen and dependents, tabulated separately under the Canadian electoral system. had switched two more seats from the Conservatives to the Liberals. They raised the Liberals to 1.30 members, three short of an over-all majority in the 265-seat House of Commons. The Conservatives were left with 94 seats and the Social Credit and New Democratic splinter parties retained 24 and 17 seats respectively. Six Social Credit members from French-Canadian Quebec. however, in a formal document sent to Mr Pearson and the Governor-General iMr Georges Vanier) yesterday. promised to support a Liberal Administratic? in the new Parliament.

If half this group holds to the announced intention Mr Pearson will be in control of the new Commons.

Today, one of the six, Mr R. Beaule, said he and at least one other Social Credit member had no idea the statement supporting a Liberal Government would be sent to the Governor-General with their signatures affixed, Canadian Press reported. Mr Beaule said he thought the statement was intended for a party caucus next week and he had no idea it would be made public. After Monday's informal

meeting. Mr Diefenbaker will hand his resignation to Mr Vaniar. who la recovering from a mild heart attack, and ’'advise - ’ the Queen's representative to call on Mr Pearson to form the new Government. Mr Pearson then will be sworn in as Prime Minister, opening the way for him to appoint a* Cabinet of about 20 members from among his supporters and to prepare a legislative programme for the first session of the new Parliament. Mr Pearson's key promises in an election campaign dominated by defence and foreign affairs included one to acquire United Statesprovided nuclear warheads for Canada’s armed forces a< home and abroad, and another to build the “closest possible" relations with the United States Administration. The service vote results left this party standing in the Commons, compared with outcomes of the three previ-

YEMENI WAR

Pact May End Fighting

(N.Z Preu Aim —Copyright) CAIRO, April 13.

The United Arab Republic and Saudi Arabia have reached agreement on ending their support for opposing sides in the Yemeni Civil War. A U.A.R. spokesman announced the agreement in Cairo today.

Both the Royalists and the Republicans in the Yemen depend heavily on outside support in their fighting. It is hoped that the U.A.R.-Saudt Arabia agreement will end the six-month-old civil war. Cairo newspapers said the U.A.R. agreed to a gradual withdrawal of its troops in the Yemen in return lor a promise that Saudi Arabia would not allow aggressive forces to gather in Saudi Arabia or cross into the Yemen.

The Saudi move would be ensured through United Nations supervision in border areas between Saudi Arabia and the Yemen. Then the U A.R. would start withdrawing its forces, estimated to number 25,000 in the Yemen. The United Nations would station observers in a 12|mile wide demilitarised zone along the Saudi-Yemnni border.

Artists Shaken In California

(N.Z. Preu Aun —Copyright) SOUTH GATE (California), April 14. One of the blue ribbon winners at this southern Californian community's annual art exhibition thia week was an untitled “expression istic’* black and white painting—done by a 22-month-old girl. United Press International reported today. “Very sensitive and reminiscent of strange creeping insects," was the way one judge. Mr Frederick Black, described the work. Some ot

the artists were so shaken

they picked up their entries and went home Mr Black and his fellow judge refused to alter their decision, however, upon lean,, ing the winner was a child. But, the rules were changed so that children’s entries will not be allowed next year

ous Federal elections: Liberal .. 1963 1962 ISM 1067 130 100 40 107 Con. 94 110 2M 112 Soo Cred. 24 30 0 IS New Dem. 17 IS • 25 Ind. 0 0 0 2 —— 1. 1 ■ »» — Total .. 205 266 265 265