CANADA: Political Bomb

In Canada, where a national campaign movedtoward the March 31 election date, Liberal Challenger Lester BowlesPearson uncorked a dramatic bid for votes. Reversing a stand he heldwhen he was Secretary of State for External Affairs, Pearson declaredthat Canada should press for an immediate ban on nuclear-bomb tests.

It was the first time that either candidate had introduced the delicateand contentious issue of atomic-arms control into the campaign. ToryPrime Minister John Diefenbaker, seemingly holding a solid lead in hisbid for a new mandate, ignored the Pearson proposal, went right ontalking about domestic affairs. The Gallup poll gave the Tories 56% ofthe minds-made-up voters, v. 32% for the Liberals.