CANADIANS PLAN AHEAD

Southland Times, Issue 24002, 18 December 1939, Page 8

CANADIANS PLAN AHEAD

POSTWAR PERIOD CONSIDERED PROTECTION OF CIVIL LIBERTIES 0 (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) TORONTO, December 15. That Canadian leaders are giving a great deal of thought to the coming post-war period in preparing for the present war is a notable feature of the Dominion’s war effort, says Mr A. D. Rothman, chief representative of the Australian Associated Press in America. What can Canada do to prevent the social and economic deterioration that is now widely feared as the war’s possible aftermath? Thus the Leader of the Opposition (Dr R. J. Manion), asked to study the problems of the general welfare of the population after the war, said: “There must be no lack of planning as in 1918.” There has also been a strong effort to protect civil liberties during the war while, in the meantime, maintaining national unity. The Quebec elections are believed to have given a definite answer in the latter connection. Indeed there have been relatively more numerous enlistments of FrenchCanadians than others. All in all, the best opinion indicates i that the nation is united in a resolve to fulfil its war undertaking. There has likewise been a halt in politics as such. The Ontario Government, for instance, whose differences with the Federal Government were noteworthy, has suspended such differences and is vigorously supporting the war effort. The results. of some six pending Federal by-elections • in. widely dispersed ridings are expected to give further proof, if this is necessary, of- a united nation. Meantime there has been a discouragement of so-called witch hunting, ideological or otherwise. It is true that communists are • having a bad time. Two eastern communist newspapers have been suspended and. feelings against the party have been specially intensified since the invasion of Finland. ? In Quebec the strong anti-Russian feeling has actually increased Quebec's support for the national war effort, and it is freely predicted that any advance of communism in Europe would further solidify Quebec. It is interesting to note, with the ideological witch hunting, that recently the Court ordered the release of a man whose innocent expression of opinion on war questions resulted in his denunciation and arrest. This does not mean that'arrests of a similar nature under the Defence Regulations ' will not occur. A warring nation can be expected to suffer from nerves, but the tendeficy has been for the best elements to rally'in support of internal liberties. I'' 1 '' ■ ' Witch hunting in the economic field, which is in the nature of revulsion against unrestricted profiteering, is alsb being avoided. Thus while war-time prices rule, the Trade Board, which iscontrolling domestic prices and assuring supplies, especially of necessities, has done an excellent job in preventing unreasonable price increases or an artificial scarcity of such vital commodities as sugar and wool. A safeguard has just been erected against possible “frivolous or malicious prosecutions” under the board’s operations, and the board’s powers have been revised and clarified. In conclusion, it is true that there is considerable puzzlement in the average Canadian’s mind about the ultimate alignment of the forces in the theatre of war and there have been no casualty lists to bring home the crucial character of the struggle, but the spirit of the people is unchanged and public interest is undiminished despite, the standstill on the Western Front. “The people of Canada were in the war emotionally at Munich,” a Canadian publicist told the Associated Press. “Nor would they accept Goering now instead of Hitler with whom to negotiate peace. Canadians are in no mood to compromise. They want a clean sweep and a new order in Germany with whom there can be a lasting and just peace.” TURKEY ORGANIZES AIR FORCE ASSISTANCE GIVEN BY BRITAIN ANKARA, December 14. Turkey is making a spirited effort to organize an air force largely with British assistance. Poland’s speedy devastation under Germany’s aerial superiority has done more to convince the Turks of the need for aeroplanes and anti-aircraft defences than years of theorizing. British instructors are teaching young officers to fly. Turkey has recently been experimenting with different types of machines, securing British, German, Polish and American aircraft, totalling 225. One hundred new British machines are now being assembled. French arid American aeroplanes also have been ordered.