Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - February 23, 1968, Winnipeg, Manitoba Printed and published daily except sunday by the Winnipeg free press company limited 300 Carlton Street Winnipeg Manitoba. 1 John Sifton president r. S. Malone publisher and editor in chief Peter Mclintock Maurice Western executive editor Ottawa editor Winnipeg free press Winnipeg Friday february 23, 1968 Freedom of Trade Liberty of religion Equality of civil rights the right Way whether or not the conservatives intend to keep it up today will Tell. But on thursday they were playing politics to the Hilt in the House of commons. Prime minister Pearson probably had a television audience of millions on wednesday night. It is Safe to say that not one in a million saw in his criticism of conservative strategy on monday night anything More than the Normal give and take of political hurly Burly. If no Canadian politician Ever said anything harsher about another politician or group of politicians than or. Pearson said about the conservatives politics in Canada would be Bland indeed. Just As surely there can be no one who for a moment entertained the thought that the prime minister s remarks were of the stuff of which motions of censure Are made not at least until e. Davie Fulton Rose and tried with the support of a number of his colleagues to have the House discipline or. Pearson. Or. Speaker not surprisingly ruled the. Motion out of order. The conservatives did themselves no Good by taking this unprecedented step and they probably realize it by now.7 nor will they their chances and their image if they embark Ori a Long procedural Wrangle Over the legality of the. Confidence motion and follow that with a Long debate on the motion itself. The right thing to do in the circumstances is to the vote Over As quickly As possible so that parliament can move on from there rather than remain tangled in red tape for Days or even the. Government can try and has tried to defend its position by attempting to place the blame for the parliamentary paralysis of the opposition. But it cannot in honesty divest itself of a heavy responsibility for the present crisis. As or. Pearson himself Lias admitted the government made mistakes. Whether it was by bad management ineptness smarter conservative strategy or for any other reason the fact remains that the government was Defeated on third Reading of a major finance Bill. Its motion introduced in wednesday asking the House to say now that the vote on the tax Bill was not one of non Confidence is not going to get around _ or change what happened. The atmosphere of parliament has so deteriorated that it can be cleansed Only by an election and or. Pearson has predicted that there will be one soon. This could come in any one of a number of ways. If the government s Confidence motion is Defeated then or. Pearson can ask for can then Call an election for a Date he deems Best. If the government is upheld then it can try to carry on again until the prime minister chooses to have Parlia ment dissolved. But it seems unlikely that the government would be effective in the House and As a lame Duck government it would not be justified in bringing in any new major legislation. There is however one piece of legislation about which the government is Adamant that is a Bill to replace the Defeated tax Bill arid which would give the government the million it would have received under this Bill. It will be a Strain on the government s ingenuity to come up with such a Bill one that is sufficiently removed from the tax Bill As to permit its introduction at this session. The tax Bill having been Defeated cannot be brought in again it might therefore be possible for the if it wins its Confidence to introduce and . Approved a new Revenue Bill. It should then prologue the House. Dis solution could be requested around mid april and a general election held in june. Whatever course events May. Take an election must be held. But in the National interest it should not be held until the Liberal party has elected a new Leader and he has had a Chance to draw up a party platform that he can present to the electorate. Such a procedure has the approval of some opposition members and it should have the approval of All voters who wish to see an orderly election Campaign that gives the electorate a Clear Cut Choice of programs. Before that however the present impasse resolved. In the interests of All concerned but most of All in the interests of canada1 As a nation it must be resolved firmly and without delay. A Candle of brotherhood this is brotherhood week i the week set aside to extol the merits of living together in i peace and Harmony and to exhort one another to Mutual respect and understanding. J these Are entirely admirable activities. But in the offices of a newspaper for example the Advent of brotherhood week can be More depressing than uplifting1. In the contents of the morning mail the spirit of brotherhood is no More in evidence than on any morning of any week. There is ample evidence that for All our pious Plati i tubes Canada has its Abund ant share of Unrot Hurliness. Bigotry prejudice intolerance discrimination downright hatred arc All there. Progress in eradicating this ugly Side of Mankind has been All too painfully slow. But that is not a reason for throwing up our hands. On the contrary it is All the greater reason for pushing ahead no matter How. Pain fully and slowly. One Ray of Light in the admittedly dark picture is the contribution that the Canadian Council of christians and jews has made towards better and wider understanding. Against the total picture it May not be blindingly Bright. But it. Is j better to Light one Small Candle than to complain about the dark. And it therefore is a j duty of All of us to support the objectives of brotherhood week not just for this week but throughout the year. Back to Plato by Ian Vorres Don t be naive it was just that sign that was a key to the deadlock Ottawa the parliamentary clock ticked words flowed Points were scored but to All outward appearances the crisis remained on thursday exactly where it had been 24 hours before. This is not to say that nothing Lias happened. There has undoubtedly been a Good Deal of activity behind the scenes and it is Likely that decisions have been taken with an important bearing on future events. Among the members of the least committed parties the feeling is that tension has perceptibly eased although no one quite knows Why. Moreover since this is a purely political crisis the clashes in the House have had no observable effect on personal relations. It is True that the conservatives used some fairly Strong w ords such ass 1 a n d e deceit and in attempting on thursday to make out a Prima Facie Case of privilege. Presumably they launched this debate partly in reply to the prime minister s charges Cut by Maurice Western Britain in Europe the Franco German decision to explore ways Anc Means b e t w e e n the european common Market and the four candidates for membership with Britain in the Lead is a distinct step Forward. But How big a step is a question that has left the British Public baffled. It represents. Some Retreat from president de Gaulle s uncompromising policy of no entry As formulated at his Jast press conference. But at the same time the new Paris proposal is considerably narrower than the earlier Benelux plan for closer technological links be tween Britain and the six. The Benelux plan promised to increase not Only economic co operation but also political cold comfort1 or. Diefenbaker in his Many television appearances during the last few Days of crisis has looked very much As Napoleon might have looked if he had. Won the Battle of Waterloo and sent Wellington packing the old tory chief must have dreamed of such a Victory for years and the reality must seem now to be a kind of dream. It must in the end however be a hollow Victory. Or. Diefenbaker is no longer the Leader of the conservative party. He May in fact continue to be the leading spirit in the party the events of the past few Days have made this perfectly Clear but any personal advantage arising out of the events of the past few Days will go to Robert Stanfield the Man who Defeated or. Diefenbaker and others in Toronto last september. If or. Diefenbaker. I eels any sense of Victory in the events of these troubled Days it must be a sour sort of Victory indeed. The crunch has come too late for the sex chief. Consultations. The proposal of Chancellor k i e s i n g e r and president de Gaulle Speaks Only of possible Tariff reductions for Britain which in for Industrial exports would undertake to buy some of the common Market sur plus agricultural produce. Some British papers such As the guardian believe that this plan offers Britain a great Deal. In particular the proposed Tariff reductions could substantially increase British. Exports to Europe. These in turn would help to build closer economic links that could later facilitate a full British entry into the eco. On the other hand the financial times sees the o offer As nothing More than the old French Chestnut of associate membership for Britain. This has always been firmly resisted by London not Only because it would place Britain on the level of some of France s former african col onies but also because it would exclude British political influence from Europe. A number of British. Commentators have expressed Dis appointment with German willingness to accept general de Gaulle s inadequate proposals rather than press foil he Benelux formula of close political consultations. This formula has the support of Italy but West Germany appears to he quite willing to disregard both her Benelux and italian partners wishes As Long As she can be sure of Good relations with France. There Are sound reasons for this. On the higher political scripture plane Germany is anxious to Olav s Bury once and for All the old Tlle Earth 1s the i Ord s hereditary enmity Between the two countries. She knows that As Long As. She maintains Good relations with France she will be accepted by other Western europeans and perhaps even by East turn judgment. The other Side of the Coin bares the dangers of a German policy that would offend the general recognition of East. Germany is a Trump that is not entirely concealed in the general s sleeve. There Are economic plums As Well in a close co operation with Paris a joint Franco German nuclear development is n o w being planned France having found it too expensive to go it alone in this Field. The germans Are thus impaled on the horns of a dilemma on the one hand the political need impels them to keep the general appeased on the other hand they Are aware of the economic need to enlarge the common Market and bring in Britain. It is therefore improbable that Bonn could advocate any dras tic course for British member ship that would not meet with the general s approval. The present proposal probably was the Best the germans could secure. not Britain Wil accept the Paris offer there is Little Hope for any sub Stan Tia Progress in european integral lion until general de Gaulle .1 departure from the scene. Everybody seems to be preparing Conlin Guncy plans for this cd Cal. Britain s own interest will be Best served by maintaining a momentum in her european involvement so that when the time comes for pushing the door open no new the pressure of Public anxiety May Suade some members of parliament to seek a Clever but a Wise answer to Canada s crisis government. Side the House and partly salutary and very sober maintain the momentum thoughts in both major their attack a in their Public state difficult matter when the conservatives have ment is at a standstill. An unyielding position there May have been less they Are doubtless United Vious reasons. The Point to the View that As the a Fricia noted is that questions they have both i privilege although and duty to defend wha common now were formerly regard As the Correl dime a dozen in the House position. Commons regularly the question is How Fai even stronger language the conservatism entitled almost always led go in resisting the Effort or. Fulton who the government to reacts the attack came off badly. The business of Parlia was his argument that prime minister had May be some who fee on the whole House the responsibility i speaking of a1 that of the minister. Crisis a trickery that their role in Thi and so on. Or. Is to resist Indef in catching his opponent with or until the Prim quotation out of context is forced to go t producing some Hall. But within the examples of almost there have always Bee conservative invective Well known in the demolished or. Who have oppose characteristically refined courses. Thes it was or. Churchill Are Only too keen saved his party from that a prolonged Crisi debating have serious const but it was left to the for the business or. Maceachen to make and might we Best Point of the afternoon. Another devaluation of protested that the the opposition Wou was becoming very be blamed. Skinned and noted to influence they May hav Delight of the liberals or. Stanfield one a the redoubtable member surmise but it Prince Albert had taken much greater than part in these proceedings. With or. Diefenbaker. Fact is that my. This is the nature of the has generally scorned problem m lege has often lamented badly planned Ventur our. Debates Are less thursday May have Bee than those of the to divert attention House and As noted by the Central deadlock to minister has adopted aspect of the Crisi some enthusiasm the is the More Pla Sib can Maxim if you Don t the motivation othe the heat stay out of seems insufficient. Sure conservatives would the probability is that better to hold their Fth rather notable change of the main struggle oper in the environs of is directly related to seems also to be som conservative caucus of the attitude of to thursday. It would be credit and credit St ing if the crisis with All according to or implications failed to credited the Gover West and prime minister United Stales Companie May have More have to be dealt with. To mat tvs to think about premiers Are not alot ment can make a Case for introducing a Confidence motion1 not on the basis of any general Power but rather on the Peculiar circumstances of monday s vote. The argument is float the Deputy speaker amid the confusion failed to obtain unanimous consent for calling third Reading. It May not be an easy Case to make but it is evidence of the anxious search for a Way of escape from the deadlock in which members Are engaged. The government is not out of the Woods yet the main Issue is scarcely joined. But there Are signs that the anxiety in the country is having its effect in parliament and that despite the earlier angry analogies with 1956, the parties whatever their Public postures do not look Forward with relish to a repetition of the pipeline debate. Athens greeks finally got a fleeting glimpse at the draft of their much heralded new Constitution. The draft prepared by an inde pendent panel of top experts was somehow mysteriously leaked out by foreign Cor respondents a and published abroad Only. Foreign papers carrying the new draft sold out instantly at Athens Newsstands. The government has let it be known that it is not very Happy with the draft and intends to revise it especially As far As the Powers of the King and the prime minister Are concerned. The greek Public did not really have to read the new draft nor to await the government announcements to realize that the old Era of undisciplined free Wheeling democracy is Over in Greece. In fact few greeks seem prepared to shed any tears Over it. From what can be gathered in Athens the new Constitution prepared by the government will be a guided democracy in the Best tradition of Plato s Republic. One of the greatest and most idealistic works in political Philo Sophy of All time the Republic was written As a reaction against the decay and corruption of athenian democracy in the fourth Century . His tory repeats itself now. It was the same democratic disintegration which ultimately led to the present regime in Greece and the rewriting of the Constitution. In his re pub lie Plato envisages a. Guided democracy restricting certain freedoms of action and a i pression for the Benefit of the entire society. The system in the Republic is such that it permits Only the Best minds philosophers to Hole the reins of government. It is perhaps a. Justification of history that Greece should be the first country in our modern age to try to. Put into practice the political ideals f its greatest philosopher. At first glance the draft to the proposed new Constitution seems to offer something of every taste except the communists and their fellow travellers party is banned from political activity. So Are persons or organizations tha can be used As a legitimate facade for communist sub version. The change most App re dated by greeks is the reduction of deputies in parliament from 300 to 200. Many the new greek tuition incorporates Many ideas expressed by the an-1 Dent greek philosopher Plato. It Aims at guided democracy and a Rule by the elite. F the old privileges deputies noyed and shockingly bused Are curtailed. One fifth f the total number of de duties will not be elected individually but appointed in Tead on Merit from lists prepared by each party. This hould attract to politics top a Ains and More than any Hing shows the platonic deals permeating the thinking if the new government. In Sato s Republic also the philosophers were appointed As rulers and never elected. Checks and controls in the new Constitution Are effected through certain Legal bodies hat Are Given supervisory Lowers Over King and Parlia nent. One such body is the constitutional tribunal which s Given Powers to dissolve All parties and dismiss All Mem ers of parliament who Are openly or. Covertly opposed to he prevailing social order. The exact composition of this All powerful tribunal is not is obvious however that the constitutional tribunal will play an essential role in the political Hie of the country. According to the new draft the King continues have the Powers to appoint and dismiss premiers. He May i also select and dismiss Cabinet ministers but Only with the Premier s consent. He retains also his title As commander in chief of the armed forces his actions however have to be approved Byl the supreme Fence Council and newly Council How far the. Government will go in clipping his Powers further is not yet Clear. Spirit that has kept the i Yrol on Edge is whether Uliey will be Given a Chance to air on the new Constitution and whether they plebiscite of it. This could Only be achieved through a free press. Another . Question is the exact Date free elections will be held under the new Constitution. And what if the greek Public rejects the new Constitution during the plebiscite these Are All questions never really clarified by the present re Gime. A great elizabethan the month february was not 1968 As now was but the year nor was the country Canada but England. It was the eighteenth year in the reign of James England and rather than that in i of later reign As James i of the place was London and the year 1621. In the life of Francis Bacon Baron Verula Viscount St. Lord Chancellor of j England philosopher and Man of letters it was a time to be remembered. After a Long assault on the citadels of Power in his country he had finally stormed the ramparts and won the greatest Victory of his career. He was recon europeans who seem to value president de Gaulle s obstacles should arise. Patient diplomacy is a virtue that often has its own rewards. And the fullness thereof the world and they that dwell therein. Psalm 24 1. Birthdays James m. Kelly Winnipeg born Rome new York february 23, 1873. Days but the premiers of the three Prairie provinces Are not letting him forget the i St s interest in the Watkins report on foreign control of the Canadian Economy and what its implementation would mean to Western Canada. Acting As the Prairie eco nomic Council they have minced no words in stating their Case implementation of the report would be a disaster in this area cutting it off from much needed foreign capital required for the development of both primary resources and new Industry. If the government survives the present crisis the Watkins report calling for tighter control of foreign investment and of Canadian subsidiaries in Ali or opposition to it and other voices will no doubt be heard. But the premiers Are to be commended on the prompt sized As the most Brilliant luminary in the kingdom and had become the trusted adviser of the King. He had served in the commons and was conceded to know More about government and its course than any other Man of his time. Wise knowledgeable magnetic full of brilliance and skill he be strode the new parliament like a colossus. Yet three months later Francis Bacon was ruined. He was hurled from his lofty Pedestal to become a figure of shame and disgrace. The charge against him was Bri Bery and As the charges mounted lie gave up All ideas of defence and submitted a general confession of guilt. He was set upon by his old enemy sir Edward Coke which gave Rise to the Pun _ about Coke roasting Ness of their action and their be was fined he was unanimity and inc Veness. Sentenced to imprisonment in the Tower of London at the King s pleasure he was barred from any office of state and it was decreed that he should never again sit in parliament or come within the verge of the court. This was the tragedy of the by Tom Saunden the highest office in the land and he aspired to similar High office. But the Road to prefer ment had not proved to be easy. He had his sponsors in he court of Queen Elizabeth and later at the court of King tames but it was Long before gained the Eminence he desired. If he had a flaw in his character it was his Over Weening desire for worldly Success. He was not above sacrificing a Friend or a sponsor to obtain it. When Here was a Choice to be made a tween what he thought to be a new pathway to Success and loyalty to the one Man lord Essex who had been his steadfast Friend he turned his Jack on his Friend. Indeed he Rose to testify against him in print. This rather than the Char Ges of bribery was Francis Bacon s tragic flaw. The Evi Dence is that he took gifts rather than bribes and that he was never swayed by them. The proof of this is that in several cases his judgment was Given against the party wh6 had paid the alleged bribe. But there can be no denying that for the Sake of preferment he would sacrifice sponsors and friends. All of which adds up to the conclusion that Francis Bacon despite his great gifts was immensely human. He was As full of paradoxes As a stray dog is of fleas. There is remembered words from crossing the bar by lord Tennyson Twilight and evening Bell and after that the dark and May there be no sadness of Farewell when i embark for Tho from out our Bourne of time and place the flood May Bear me far i Hope to see my Pilot face to face when i have Crost the bar. Man who has Long been recognized As the greatest mind of his time and one of the greatest minds of All time writer philosopher scientist official Anc politician he had come from a family Long immersed in state business. His father had held something Wistful Power about his something sad about a Man of his extraordinary talents grub Bing for a Royal smile or whining to his Uncle William Cecil lord for a Job something ironic about him being hooted out of office by his enemies none of whom had his Genius but All of whom were armed with the deadly weapons of vengeance and guile. But most ironic of All is the fact that he had so much to offer apart from the Machin a tons of his Public life which brought about his disgrace. Yta Caulay described him As being inhabited with All the Owers of the most exquisitely constructed intellect that has Ever been bestowed on any of he children of All the time he was conniving for office he roamed the vast largely uncharted Field of the mind in both science and philosophy and wrote what is Oday recognized As the most preciously valued Book of essays in English literature. Even after he fell. From his contributions to the world of the intellect went on apace. During the five remain ing years of his life he never ceased from working. He commenced a digest of the of England he wrote a history of England under the princes of the House of Tudor he compiled a body of natural history he wrote a philosophical Romance he made a latin translation of the advancement of learn ing with seven new parts added including the new Atlantis and All this time the time of his disgrace his greatest work ovum Organus published the year before his Public demise was making him one of the towering figures of the world of his Day. Even his death had some thing ironic about it. In March 1626, while driving one Day near Highgate lie decided on impulse to discover whether Snow would delay the process of putrefaction. He stopped his Carriage bought a Hen and. Assisted in stuffing it with Snow. In the process he caught a. Cold which turned into pneumonia and As a result of his last Experiment he died on april 9. But he never feared death. Bacon it has been said like Shakespeare w h o m some claim he had a word for every occasion. One of his last words found its occasion in our own time. Said Bacon for the Benefit of Franklin Delano Roosevelt who picked it up years to be feared Over 300 nothing is except fear x Jav ;