DIEFENBAKER WAS REBUFFED

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31225, 24 November 1966, Page 17

DIEFENBAKER WAS REBUFFED

(From MELVIN SUFRIN. N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent)

TORONTO, Nov. 22.

John Diefenbaker appears to be on the way out after 10 lively years as Canada’s Conservative Party leader.

The colourful 71-year-old Saskatchewan lawyer, who has turned back many challenges in recent years, met his match at the party’s national convention in Ottawa a few days ago.

In spite of his impassioned pleas for support and a fiery

tirade against his opponents, be was rebuffed as the conrention first re-elected Dalton Camp as national president, then voted overwhelmingly for a review of the party leadership before the end of 1967. Mr Diefenbaker, a hero

. among Tories, when he led ' them out of the political wilderness in 1957 after 22 years in frustrating opposi-

tion, has gradually lost support since his government was defeated in the 1963 election.

Only the fact that the Liberals. led by Lester Pearson, could do no better than form minority governments in the last two General Elections has kept Diefenbaker from being removed. He still commands the allegiance of a majority of the 95 Tories in Parliament but even in the party caucus there has been some erosion since the convention setback. A fire-and-brimstone orator with a bent for political infighting, Diefenbaker probably will not give up without a fight The latest challenge to Dief the Chief began some months ago when Camp, a Toronto advertising man. suggested it was time to review the leadership. Mr Camp managed to rally the support of many who felt the oncie-dynamic leader had become primarily a negativeminded politician, one who fought against the programmes of Mr Pearson without offering positive alternatives.

in an attempt to thwart Dalton Camp, pro-Diefen-baker forces put up a Toronto lawyer, Arthur Maloney, as his opponent for the party presidency. When Camp was re-elected 564 to 502, the vote was interpreted as a defeat for Diefenbaker.

His position was further weakened when the convention went on to vote 548 to 209 to hold a leadership convention in 1967. The convention subsequently gave Mr Diefenbaker a vote of confidence with Mr Camp’s backing but it was a hollow victory for the leader after the two earlier defeats, and Mr Camp’s action was merely a gesture toward party unity. What is remarkable about the setback is that it was carried off without the presence of an obvious leadership successor, usually regarded ;as a necessary element when trying to unseat someone.

Perhaps the reason why there is no one person who stands out as a prospective replacement is that Diefenbaker has never fostered any of his lieutenants as a likely heir.

If anything, he has discouraged such a development. Davie Fulton, now 50, appeared to be winning a following as Minister of Justice in the Diefenbaker Cabinet but was shifted from this key post to the lesser portfolio of Public Works.

In 1963, apparently disillusioned, he left Federal politics to make an unsuccessful tiy at revitalising provincial Conservative fortunes in British Columbia. Now he is back in Parliament and once more in the running. Along with George Hees, aged 56, a successful Trade Minister who publicly broke with Diefenbaker in 1962 in a Cabinet split over defence policy, and Alvin Hamilton, aged 54, a former Minister of Northern Affairs who still supports Diefenbaker.

But none of these three stands out. And the same goes for the three provincial Premiers who are given a chance of winning the national leadership—Manitoba’s Duff Roblin, aged 49, Ontario’s John Robarts, aged 49, and Nova Scotia’s Robert Stanfield, aged 52.