Evening star., 1951-05-06

remarks In speech at toronto
the United States.
He touched of a furry Of angry
letter-writing by some Americans
who felt that Canada was acting
the part of a headstrong child anc
setting itself up as entirely too in,
dependent of American policy ir
world affairs. He amplified anC
clarified his position in q subse-
quent address in Ottawa.
The storm has quieted, but the
anxious concern for the future o1
Canadian-U United States relations
continues, in the knowledge that
the many ties which already bind
the two countries are growing rap
idly, bringing with them new
problems, new issues and new
potential causes of friction.
In Frank Reproach
The remarks by Mr.. Pearson
which stirred protest in the United
States were frank reproach for
those in the United States who
accuse Canada of not doing
enough in the cause of Western
defense:
1--WE need not try to deceive our
selves" he said, that these close
relations with our great neighbor
will always be smooth and easy.
There will be difficulties and fric-
tions. These. however, will be
easier to settle if the United States
realizes that while we are most
anxious to work with her and sup
port her in the leadership she is
giving to the free world. we are
not willing to be merely an echo
of somebody else's voice.
1T would be easier also II II
were recognized by the United
States at this time that we in
Canada have had our own expert
ence of tragedy and suffering and
loss in war. We must convince
the United States by action rather
than merely by word that we are,
in fact, pulling our weight in this
international team.
ION their side they should not
attempt to tell us that until we dc
one-twelfth or one-Sixteenth. OF
some other fraction as much as
they are doing in any particular
enterprise, we are defaulting. It
would also help if the United
States took more notice Of what
we do, and, indeed, occasionally
Of what we say"
Stated by themselves these par
agraphs could and did give the
impression of Canadian resent
ment, a feeling of independence
and even perhaps a desire to bolt
from the ranks Of Western ma
items.
But taking these paragraphs
out of the speech destroys the
whole picture which Mr.. Pearson
was trying to give his Canadian
listeners. That whole picture Is
much more reassuring as to Cana
dian intentions and desires than
the quoted sentences indicate.
GAS long as we live in a world
of sovereign states" Mr.. Pear
son said, "Canada's part Tin
collective international action)
has to be determined by ourselves.
but this should be done only after
consultation with and, If possible
in agreement with our friends and
allies"
1--WE must reserve the right, for
instance" he declared later, "to
criticize even the policy Of our
great friends, the United States,
if we feel it necessary to do So
There are two reservations to
this. First, we must recognize
and pay tribute to the leadership
being given and the efforts being
made by the United States in
the conflict against Communist
imperialism, and realize that If
this leadership were not given we
would have little chance Of sue
cess In the common struggle.
Secondly, we must never forget
that our enemy gleefully welcomes
every division in the free demo-
cratic ranks. 80"
And, finally:
1.-THE days of relatively easy and
automatic political relations with
our neighbor are. I think over.
They are over because the
United States is now the domin-
ating world power on the side
Of freedom. :"
Founded on Facts
Mr.. Pearson's expressions of the
Canadian governments position
with respect to United States pol
icy and collective action generally
are founded on certain facts in
the co-existence of Canada and
the United States as neighbors.
Before World War II Canada
was much more.a subordinate part
of the British Commonwealth of
Nations than it is today. 1t was
the foundation stone of British
interest IN the Western Hemi-
sphere and was under domination
from London to a degree which
aroused the greatest Canadian re-
sentiment.
In those days Canada regarded
itself as the interpreter of United
States policy to the British COM
monwealth and thereby to Europe
as a whole. While it was essen
TALLY British, it was the closest
neighbor of any British country
to the increasingly powerful
United States. and as such came
into closest contact with Ameri-
can policies in many fields besides
the political.
Today the situation is entirely
different. Britain, weakened by
World War II, no longer exercises
over Canada the prewar degree OF
domination. In fact, British DOM
ination Is practically extinct. Can.