Evening star., 1944-11-27
Ottawa Cabinet Faces
Test Debate Today
On Overseas Draft
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
OTTAWA, Nov. 27.-Special
disciplinary measures to main
tain order were taken in draftee
camps throughout Canada today
as Prime Minister w. L. Mac
Kenzie King faced a bitterly
torn Parliament to ask for a vote
of confidence in his new policy
Of partial conscription for over
seas service.
The life of the ,9-year-old King
regime hung in the balance as the
House of Commons assembled to
debate the conscription issue, the
most explosive political question in
Canada's modern history.
In some areas of the French
speaking Province of Quebec, tradi-
tionally opposed to conscription for
service abroad, troops of all cate
gories were told TO keep of the
streets in certain cities to lessen the
possibility Of violent outbreaks such
as marked the week end In various
parts of the Dominion.
Precautions Taken.
Similar precautions were taken in
the west coast province OF British
Columbia, where more than $4,000
home defense soldiers are stationed,
approximately 5000 Of them French
speaking, and where demonstrations
occurred In at least five places over
the week end. :
The home defense troops are
draftees from among whom the
government is conscripting 10000
for immediate reinforcement of de-
pleted infantry ranks fighting on
the western front.
Tension ran high on Parliament
Hill as Commons convened to hear
Prime Minister King defend this
policy. His confidence motion asks
the house Ito aid this government
in its policy Of maintaining a
vigorous war"
The wording-not mentioning
conscription-is calculated to win as
many votes as possible from various
groups OF his own supporters whose
desires range all the way from total
CONSUMPTION to none at all. The par
tial conscription policy itself is a
compromise between these opposite
views.
Long Debate Expected.
Debate on the Prime Minister'S
motion was expected to run through
several days. with opposition mo-
tions being offered and voted on in
the meantime.
Much was expected to depend on
the stand Of former Defense Minis
ter j. L. Ralston, who resigned early
this month because he could not win
the government to his view of dig
ging into the Home Defense Army
for urgently-needed reinforcements
abroad. Although the new partial
conscription policy represented a
victory for Col. Ralstons stand, 1t
was not certain that he-still a
member of Parliament-would vote
with the government.
If he should, the government was
expected to win easily, since its nor
NAL majority is overwhelming. If
Col. Ralston votes against the gov
ernment. the Prime Minister may be
defeated or exc through by a ma
jority so slim that he would be COM
PEELED to call for a general election.
The Quebec newspaper LIE Soleil,
leading supporter of Mr.. Kings
Liberal party in Quebec, said
French-speaking members Of the
House with only a few exceptions"
would vote against Mr.. Kings con-
f1dence motion, a detection which
would cut deeply into the govern
ment's strength since it normally
has most of the provinces IS votes.
The total House membership Is
245, but taking into account II va
cancies and several absentees, the
total vote is expected to be about
224. The various groups opposed to
Mr.. Kings policy-either because it
goes to far or not far enough-are
not expected to poll more than a