CANADA: In Delicate Balance

Controlled for the first time in 22 years by the Conservatives, Canada’s Parliament gathered last week in delicate political balance. For Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, heading a ruling minority of no Tories* in a 265-seat House of Commons, the order of business was to pass an ambitious legislative program. Liberal Leader Louis St. Laurent, 75, Prime Minister from 1948 until his party’s defeat last June, faced an equally challenging problem in maneuver: to harry and wound the Tories politically, but not so grievously as to force an election that Liberals fear would cost them some seats.

When Queen Elizabeth, dressed in her jewel-encrusted coronation gown and diamond tiara, read the Speech from the Throne written by the Conservative government and outlining its legislative aims, Prime Minister Diefenbaker’s strategy came clear. His government would introduce legislation to raise pensions for the aged, needy and war veterans; it planned to provide cash advances for farmers with unsold wheat, and to embark on a far-reaching program of hydroelectric power development. If Parliament balked at any significant part of his program, confident John Diefenbaker would call an early election. Said cautious Louis St. Laurent: “It does not seem to us in the official Opposition appropriate to move the traditional vote of want of confidence.” Taunted Diefenbaker: “A defeatist attitude.”

As the House of Commons settled down to its first full day’s work, Diefenbaker strolled across the Chamber to shake hands with his old adversary, Liberal St. Laurent. Then moving a few paces farther, he offered a warm handshake to Lester Bowles Pearson, Secretary of State for External Affairs in the old Liberal government and now an ordinary M.P. Reason: word had just reached Ottawa that the Nobel Committee of the Norwegian Parliament had awarded “Mike” Pearson its Peace Prize−the first ever to go to a Canadian.

The $40,000 cash prize was recognition of Pearson’s leadership in creating the United Nations Emergency Force to guard the peace in the Middle East. Already a front runner to succeed Louis St. Laurent (who sent in his resignation as Liberal leader in September), Nobel Winner Pearson became an odds-on favorite to take over as leader when the Liberals meet in January to make their choice.

*Other party standings: Liberal 105, C.C.F. (Socialist) 25, Social Credit 19, Independent 3, vacancies 2, plus a nonvoting Speaker.