Militant 4th Feb, 1963. 1440 Opposition is devsloping in Canada to the acceptance of nuclear weapons from the U.5, government, Spearhsading this opposition is the militant New Democratic Youth, youth section of Tanada's labor party, the New Democratic Party. The New Democratic Youth picketsd both the national convention of the Uonservativse Party and tha recent speaking tour of Toronto hy Liberal Party leader Lestor B. Pearson. “es pickets were protesting tha fact that bothmajor parties have buckled tnder Washington's pressure to accept nuclear weapons,
A petition campaign calling for a national refarrandum cn'tha qu2stion has besn initiated by tha NDY. Tha idea of latting ths people yote on this issue has already receivad the support of the University of Toronto Gombined Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the nowly-formed Youth Campaign for Nuclaar Disarmament. Both major parties are trying to stall and hedgs on the issue until after the elections which ars dus to taks place soon, Both parties have sic-sagzed in their positions as the pressure from the U.3., on the one side, and from Canadians, on the other, has been applied.
U.5. prassuro is mainly in the form of subtle threats about reducing or withdrawing lucrativa "defense" contracts from Canadian companios, Home prossure takes the form of vocal opposition and the prospect of losing votes, The Christian Joisnce Monitor of Jan.28 reported that "Han-the-Bomb groups, active in Canada and frequently led by influential citizens, woro furious with Pearson, Three former Liberal candidates, defeated last Juns, quit the party." Opp— osition to "joining the nuslear club" undor U.%,. hegemony is particularly strong in Franch Canada, whera polls show 75 per cont opposed.
One of the fontures of the naw trade union and socialist paper is its youth section, The first issue contained articles by a member of the National Committee of the Young Socialists, and another article by a member of the West London Federation of Young Socialists, a Comrade who is extremely activa. The section also includes a 'Nows Round-up', which among other things reports the demonstration organisod by the Merssyside Federation, the campaign by the West London Federntion of the Y.&S. against unemployment and the North Paddington branch of the Y.5, resolution for — annual conference on tho fight against unemployment (this among othor things counterposes a sliding scale of wages against redundancy agreements) The section finishes with an appeal for articles and other copy.
A Derby Correspondent reports that two organisations in Derby have in the last wesk protested against the expulsions, etc. in the Young Socialists. The Chaddesden Labour Party expressed deop misgivings and said that the Y.5, should have a de democratic constitution which would enable it to run its own affairs, The Derby Y.5. expressed tho same ideas tut in sharper language.