New Govt. Takes Office In Canada

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30115, 26 April 1963, Page 20

New Govt. Takes Office In Canada

(N.Z. Press Association— CopvrigM) OTTAWA. April 23. A new Canadian Government took office yesterday with acceptance of nuclear arms and the mending of relations with the I nited States high on its list of objectives, the Associated Press rqwrteti.

The Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader. Mr Lester Pearson told reporters: “We are starting to work right away and when you work, you expect to have some results. The Administration assumed power at noon by taking the oath of office from the Governor-General, MajorGeneral Georges Vanier, who is recovering from a heart attack.

The outgoing Prime Minister, Mr John Diefenbaker, made his last c?U on the Governor-General and was followed a few minutes later by Mr Pearson. The new Defence Minister, Mr Paul Hellyer, aged 39. predicted the issue that frayed United StatesCanadian relations—Canada's refusal to accept United States nuclear weapons—would be solved in about a month. He expected to see the United States Secretary of Defence (Mr McNamara' on May 16 or soon after.

It is possible Mr Pearson will seek to get rid of the nuclear w’arheads, Associated Press said. He said in his campaign that while Canada should live up to its commitments to accept the weapons, it should later negotiate with the United States to drop them.

Mr HeUyer said, however, that Canadian Air Force units would have nuclear warheads in Europe In about six months. He thought warheads would be available a little earlier for anti-aircraft Bornarc missiles in Canada. Mr Pearson, who will be 66 today, plans a trip soon to Landon to meet Britain's Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) and to visit Canadian military bases on the Continent.

Mr Pearson announced a Cabinet at 24 men and one woman. The new Minister of External Affairs is Mr Paul Martin, aged 60. a member of Parliament since 1935. The Justice Minister, Mr Lionel Cbevrier. aged 60, will be Acting-Prime Minister in Mr Pearson's absence. Miss Judy la Marsh, aged 38. was appointed Minister of National Health and Welfare.