Mr. J. A. Bradelie (Cochrane):

Mr. Speaker, on a question of privilege, I ask your indulgence for a few moments in order that I may bring to the attention of the house what we called the "Marcel Boivin trip."

On Thursday afternoon of last week a party consisting of forty-two members of this house, twenty-one of whom were accompanied by their wives, left Ottawa for a three-day trip to Granby, Quebec, the princess city of the eastern townships. In this group every province of Canada was represented, as well as every political party in the federal field. On arriving at our destination we received a civic reception from the nationally known and dynamic mayor of Granby, Mr. P. H. Boivin, who was accompanied by his charming wife and the members of the municipal council. His Worship remained with us throughout the whole of our stay, and his exuberance, his personality, his wide knowledge of affairs in general, his faith in the future of his city, of his province and of Canada, impressed us very much. He also made us familiar with the great progress already made in that area, as well as its hopes and aspirations for the future, with the inevitable problems that have to be faced and solved.

Numerous and extensive visiting tours were well organized, allowing us to visit several industries, such as the Granby Elastic Web, the Verney corporation, the Miner Rubber Company, the Imperial Tobacco Company, the Granby Co-operative, the Racine Manufacturing Company-just to name a few. Everywhere we were received with courtesy, and we were given the opportunity to make a thorough inspection of these plants in full operation. In the course of conversation it was easy to realize the spirit of co-operation and understanding that exists between labour and management, and at every function both were well represented.

The fine hospitality which is always to the fore in the province of Quebec was manifested by our hosts and by everyone else

with whom we came in contact. I am convinced that all those who made this trip feel that they know more about their country than they did before.

We were inspired by seeing in practice the real unity of the two parent races, and this was at once made evident by the fact that the population of Granby is made up of twenty per cent of English-speaking descent and eighty per cent of French-speaking descent. Its citizens speak the two official languages of our country.

I also wish to express appreciation to the Canadian Pacific and the Canadian National for the fine service they gave us, which made our trip a most pleasant and comfortable one.

Before resuming my seat there is another pleasant duty that I wish to perform. I know that in doing so I am voicing the sentiments of my colleagues. It is to present to the hon. member for Shefford (Mr. Boivin), and to Mrs. Boivin, our most heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the very efficient manner in which this tour was organized. The full success of the visit was undoubtedly due to the great care the hon. member took in its preparation, and to his constant presence with his guests. His activities, which made this journey possible, enabled us to see the extraordinary strides that have been made in commerce and industry in his home city. There we met a number of able businessmen, who have contributed their talents and courage in the building up of a prosperous business centre. We also readily perceived that the progress they have made is not attributable only to the efforts of a relatively small group; a large part of the credit must go to the persevering work of the whole population, which is proud of its municipality and anxious to see it progressing in every department.

It will always be with pleasure and gratitude that we shall remember those most agreeable and instructive days.

Hon. Alphonse Fournier (Minister of Public Works):

As announced on Friday, Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to move, seconded by the Minister of Labour (Mr. Mitchell):

That the report from the civil service commission respecting the revisions in classification of officials of the House of Commons, tabled on 31st March, 1950, be concurred in.

House of Commons

Mr. Sianley Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre):

May I say just a word, Mr. Speaker? I feel sure that all members of the House of Commons will welcome the opportunity to vote for this motion to give effect to the increases and other changes that are set out in the report made by the civil service commission. They are increases that are well deserved, and in many cases long overdue. I shall not make the mistake of referring specifically to any of these that might merit particular attention, because comparisons are unwise to make. I want to express the hope, however, that it will not be long before there will be before the house another report of this kind dealing with employees not covered by this one or by the last one we had, which was laid on the table of the house on April 29, 1948; it is sessional paper 139a of that date.

I could mention one or two of the offices or branches around the building that do not seem to have been considered by way of increases in either of these last two reports. From the study I have made of the various documents in the case, it seems to me that there are still quite a number of subordinate employees who have not had increases that I feel are coming to them. In other words, most of the increases provided for in the report now before us deal with chiefs or assistant chiefs of various branches, although there are included a few subordinate employees who have had a slight upward adjustment.

I want to express the hope-and I am sure that other members will agree with me-that it will not be long before there will be another report of this kind taking care of the needs of some of the other employees. As these changes are made from time to time the employees who are overlooked get the word that their cases will be covered in the next report; then when the next report comes down and they find that they are still not covered, they wonder how long they are going to have to wait.

I fully recognize, Mr. Speaker, the fact that we are dealing in this instance with employees who are permanent and who come under the civil service commission. I fully recognize the fact that this whole business, so far as we have it before us at this time, is beyond the jurisdiction of the officials of the house. It is a civil service matter. When I express the hope that further work will be done on this matter, what I want is that my words and sentiments will be taken note of by the civil service commission, and that they will carry on with the job.

Carried.

Mr. Knowles:

So far as I am concerned, what they have done thus far is all to the

good. These increases are obviously made with the approval of all members in all sections of the house. But let us not forget those who thus far have been forgotten.

Hon. Brooke Claxton (Minister of National Defence):

Having just returned, Mr. Speaker, from the meetings of the various committees under the North Atlantic treaty which were held at The Hague and were concluded on Saturday night, I thought the house would like to have presented to it the communique issued by the defence committee after it had been approved by the committee at its meeting Saturday evening. It is as follows:

The defence committee of the North Atlantic treaty organization held its third meeting on April 1, 1950, at Juliana barracks, The Hague, The Netherlands, at 10 a.m.

The purpose of the meeting was to consider the work that has been accomplished by the military committee and the military production and supply board since the second meeting of the defence ministers in Paris on December 1, 1949.

The delegates attending the meeting were as follows:

Belgium, Mr. Albert Deveze, Minister of Defence; Canada, Hon. Brooke Claxton, Minister of Defence; Denmark, Mr. Rasmus Hansen, Minister of Defence; France, Mr. Rene Pleven, Minister of Defence; Italy, Mr. Randolfo Pacciardi, Minister of Defence; Luxembourg, Mr. Pierre Dupong, Minister of State; The Netherlands, Mr. W. F. Schokking, Minister of Navy and War; Norway, Mr. Jens Christian Hauge, Minister of Defence; Portugal, Captain Americo Deus Rodrigues Thcmaz, Minister of Marine; United Kingdom, Right Hon. E. Shin well, Minister of Defence; United States, Hon. Louis Johnson, Secretary of Defence.

At the Paris meeting in December the defence committee approved a broad strategic concept which was later adopted by the Atlantic council in January and directed the preparation of plans for the defence of the North Atlantic treaty area.

At its meeting the defence ministers unanimously approved the plan for collective self-defence that was recommended by the chiefs of staff in the military committee earlier in the week.

Within a short space of six months the military planning organization has determined the general strategy of defence of the North Atlantic treaty area, has prepared an estimate of the military situation if any attack be launched against the treaty nations, and has prepared plans for defence against such an aggression should it occur. These plans call for an integrated defence of the entire north Atlantic area as distinguished from individual national defence. Each nation, in accordance with article III of the treaty, will help itself and the others in accordance with its available resources. Thus, for the first time, twelve independent and sovereign nations have achieved, through the democratic process of co-operation, a system for defending themselves and each other.

The defence ministers acknowledged the speed with which the regional planning groups, the standing group and the military committee, achieved the

first basis for their plans. At the same time they directed that the plans be kept under continuous review.

They concerned themselves in particular with the role to be played by the military production and supply board which would insure the most efficient employment of the funds which are appropriated in each nation for military production, and they gave specific directives to this board to implement standardization of equipment and to insure a co-ordinated production.

The defence ministers recognized the great importance of adequate financing to carry out the plan and the need for careful balancing of the respective national economies in the light of the present world situation. For this purpose they requested the defence finance and economic committee to survey the financial and economic potentialities available for defence purposes.

Although considerable progress has been made since their last meeting in the attainment of collective security, which is the common goal of the Atlantic treaty nations, the ministers recognize that further sustained effort will be required. They adjourned with the strengthened conviction that the organization being set up would allow the countries to insure their defence both economically and efficiently.

Mr. Louis Johnson, United States Secretary of Defence, served as chairman of the meeting, and he expressed the gratitude of the committee to The Netherlands government for the kind invitation to meet in The Hague and the hospitality provided.

The time and place for the next meeting will be determined as events require.

That concludes the communique that was approved. I should like to add that in warmth of welcome, hospitality, and the excellence of the arrangements, the government and people of The Netherlands did everything possible for the success of the meeting. Their attitude also showed that the name of Canada still continues to stand high in the hearts and minds of the people and government of that friendly nation.

I should like to say also, Mr. Speaker, that in this connection there is a report appearing in the press of today under a Canadian Press dateline, referring to an Associated Press story, which reads:

The AP story added:

"The Canadians felt they were not getting enough information on technical advances because of a road-block between the Pentagon in Washington and London."

I want to make it perfectly clear that nothing like this was said by any member of the Canadian delegation at The Hague, and that nothing like this was felt. Our arrangements for securing information, either from the United States or from the United Kingdom, in our minds leave nothing whatever to be desired. We are completely satisfied with them. Any suggestion to the contrary is based on a misunderstanding of the situation.

Finally, I should like to say that these meetings at The Hague presented us with an opportunity to discuss with the representatives of the countries there the offer that we had made to their representatives here on the

. North Atlantic Treaty

16th of March, under which we would train a hundred aircrew and a hundred and fifty army personnel. At The Hague we put before their chiefs of staff memoranda giving details of these proposals, which enabled us to discuss them there; and I have the greatest possible pleasure in telling the house that the reception given to those proposals was very enthusiastic indeed. There is no doubt that with courses that we are giving from June and July on, but mostly starting with the air force toward the end of August and for the army in September, we shall expect to have sufficient applicants, from the various countries desirous of sending officers to train with us, to fill up all the vacancies. It was indicated in the course of our discussion that the plans did give rise to the discussion of rather similar arrangements being developed in other directions; therefore in this we may have started something which may prove to be much larger than the plan itself.

Mr. Pearkes:

Will the minister permit one question? First of all, may I congratulate him upon his safe return after a speedy trip across the ocean. My question is: Can the minister say whether Canada has accepted any commitments other than merely the training of the aircrew and army personnel to which he referred?

Mr. Claxlon:

I thank the hon. member for Nanaimo for his very kind welcome. The situation regarding commitments is as described in the statement I gave on March 17. We have our obligations under the treaty. The only additional obligation is the offer I have made, which is in course of being accepted, for the training of army personnel and aircrew. There are no other specific commitments.

Mr. Green:

May I ask the minister whether there were any discussions, formal or informal, as to the possibility of a defence pact for the Pacific?

Mr. Claxton:

No; none whatever.

Mr. M. J. Coldwell (Rosetown-Biggar):

Perhaps at this point I might be permitted to ask a question, notice of which I sent to the Secretary of State for External Affairs, because it bears on the matter which was the subject of the minister's statement. In the joint communique which the minister has just read, it was indicated that a plan of integrated action had been adopted. The question I should like to ask of the government is this: To what extent, if any, have similar definite steps been taken under article

Apples

II of the treaty to eliminate conflict in international economic policies and to encourage economic collaboration among the members of the alliance as set forth in the treaty?

Hon. Brooke Claxlon (Acting Secretary of Stale for External Affairs):

Mr. Speaker, I had not seen the question before, but in the absence of the Secretary of State for External Affairs, to whom it should be directed, I may answer as Acting Secretary of State for External Affairs. I can tell the hon. member and the house that, as he and the house know, Canada has taken a very keen interest in this particular article and contributed a good deal to its acceptance in its present form. Our hope and expectation is that at the next meeting of the North Atlantic council-that is, the council of foreign ministers-this matter will receive consideration. But at the meetings of the defence ministers, as the communique I mentioned indicates, economic and financial considerations were taken into account as well as purely military considerations.