THE CANADIAN CRISIS

Eric D. Butler reports from Canada
Following a meeting in Virden, Manitoba on November 10th, I attended the local Armistice Day service the next morning, which I was interested to find was well attended with a large contingent of ex-servicemen and others who then marched to the local Legional Hall. Virden will be vividly remembered by those Australians who were based here to participate in the Commonwealth air-training scheme in World War Two.

As I listened to the address at the Armistice service, I wondered what those who had done their training in the skies above where we were gathered, would have made of an appeal for a peace which the speaker claimed required "compromise". Like so many others, he clearly had his priorities all wrong. True peace is the product of the implementation of basic principles. Peace between nations, as between individuals, is only possible when artificial frictions are removed, and when there is a respect for natural rights.

The speaker appeared to be re-echoing the unrealism of Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, who has been travelling in Western Europe in search of peace. But while Prime Minister Trudeau is searching for peace abroad, there is mounting friction inside his own country. And there is no evidence that a change of politicians at Ottawa will halt the friction. Policy statements by Progressive Conservatives indicate a continuation of Trudeau policies, including the imposition of bi-lingualism on the whole of Canada.

If the deepening Canadian crisis is to be halted, the first requirement is a frank assessment of the system of Confederation. If it is felt that it is a desirable objective to have a Canadian Confederation, a basic requirement is a Constitution that ensures that all Provinces are equally represented in an elected Senate that has powers at least equal to those of the Australian Senate. Unless such a Constitution is adopted the progressive centralisation of all powers at Ottawa is inevitable, with a hardening of the separatist sentiment in Quebec, and a growing resentment in Western Canada.

Unfortunately that resentment has not yet been able to find a constructive outlet, with the Western Canadian Concept movement making the fatal mistake of originally moving into the party political field. The major collapse of this move was inevitable. Having met and heard some of the leaders of this movement, I see little evidence that they have learned very much from their first debacle.

What is required is a well-based grassroots movement whose representatives have a firm understanding of those basic principles outlined in League of Rights training schools. It is not too much to say that the future of Canada now depends primarily upon the capacity of the Canadian League of Rights to provide the type of leadership required. Without that leadership, my considered assessment is that the future for Canadians looks extremely bleak.

HISTORIC CALGARY SEMINAR AND CONFERENCE

Eric D. Butler's Report filed from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
"Tight security ensured that the Dinner and International Seminar held in conjunction with the 1983 Crown Commonwealth League of Rights Conference, took place without threatened disruption. Desperate media representatives attempted to force their way into the Seminar but were forced back by security guards. At the conclusion of the Calgary weekend, October 29-30-31, local Zionist spokesmen said they had decided not to picket the League because it would have given credibility to the League.

It was stated earlier that the League was precluding the media from the Seminar to prevent exposure of the pitifully small support the League had. As the media were forced to admit later, the Seminar was completely packed. At least 400 people attended; $10,000 was taken in book and tape sales at the seminar. "All Crown Commonwealth countries were represented at the Calgary weekend, with a very strong contingent from Australia and New Zealand. There was also strong representation from influential groups of Americans. A group of Mexicans attended as observers and later met with representatives of the Crown Commonwealth, requesting the opportunity to work closely with the English speaking world, and expressing the view that the future of the world depended primarily upon the Crown Commonwealth countries and the U.S.A.

"The opening Dinner function of the Calgary weekend was a most inspiring event, with messages from all around the world. There was a special round of applause for Mr. Jeremy Lee, who flew in from Australia only a few hours before the Dinner, who brought news of the dramatic Queensland election results, along with a personal message from Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen. A message from Senator Florence Bjelke-Petersen was also greeted warmly by the Dinner audience, as was one from Lady Phyllis Cilento.
"In a short personal message on behalf of Australians, I was pleased to be able to introduce South Australian State Director, Mr. Frank Bawden, relating how back in 1946 he was one of the few who sat with me in an Adelaide restaurant and discussed the idea of forming the League of Rights.

"I had already clashed with representatives of the C.B.C. at an Albertan country meeting, and the same television crew attempted to crash the Calgary Seminar. The behaviour of the media generally, particularly that of the television crews, was appalling, with many visitors to the Seminar being accosted in the hotel lobbies and asked for their comments.

"One of the highlights of the Seminar was the Paper by Colonel Gordon (Jack) Mohr, one of America's most decorated soldiers. Colonel Mohr was taken prisoner of war in the Korean War, and knows what Communist brainwashing is all about. He has had wide international experience, and has been a lecturer for many years. "A well known fundamentalist lay preacher, he became highly controversial when he took a firm stand on the Zionist question.

"Mr. Ivor Benson, the distinguished South African journalist, gave a brilliant paper, showing how the retreat of the Western colonial powers from Africa had led to what he described as an Imperialism of money. The plight of the African people had worsened as a result of this development.

"The Conference between the Crown Commonwealth and Americans was an historic event which resulted in the drawing up of a 'statement of principle' concerning the desirability of an expansion of closely associated grassroots activities. The statement is to be widely distributed throughout the United States and will be followed next year by a conference in the United States. The Statement concluded by stating that 'the peoples of the Crown Commonwealth and the United States of America are best equipped to provide leadership' in the struggle for the world".

SENATOR GARETH EVANS ATTACKS ROLE OF MONARCHY IN THE CONSTITUTION

"There is nothing unusual, adventurous or to be scared of about constitutional change". - Senator Gareth Evans, in The Australian, Nov. 26th.

Well, Senator Gareth Evans must think that we came down in the last shower. There are no less than twenty Sections or part Sections of the Australian Constitution to be deleted or amended. All but four appear to be of a technical/administrative nature; although, knowing Senator Gareth Evans, we are more than willing to be corrected here. Sections 58, 59, 60, and 74 relate to the role of the Monarch in the Australian Constitution. We were dead right (On Target, November 18th) about the proposed deletion of Section 59, which reads:
"The Queen may disallow any law within one year from the Governor General's assent, and such disallowance on being made known by the Governor General by speech or message to each of the Houses of the Parliament, or by Proclamation shall annul the law from the day when the disallowance is so made known." This would stop the possibility of the Queen being petitioned by sufficient of her Australian subjects to disallow any reprehensible law. One further safeguard of the Australian people against tyranny removed! But there's nothing to be scared about! Oh no.

The other three amendments will reduce the role of the Queen as the Protectress of our rights and liberties. Senator Gareth Evans has admitted that his five referenda are likely to be disallowed in Queensland and Tasmania, where the two non-Socialist State Governments will hopefully mount a campaign AGAINST the Gareth Evans referenda. So the "key" State is now Western Australia, and this is where the Hawke Government can be confidently expected to make its greatest effort. It is also where the League will make its greatest effort.

WHERE WAS MR. IAN MACPHEE LAST SATURDAY (NOV. 26th)

CLAIMS ARE DECEPTIVE

THE AUSTRALIAN REVOLUTION - 1983