Mr. W. G. Weir (Porlage-Neepawa) moved:

That the name of Mr. McLure be substituted for that of Mr. Browne (St. John's West) on the special committee on railway legislation.

Mr. R. O. Campney (Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of National Defence):

Mr. Speaker, when Bill 21, respecting the Canadian forces, was in committee on Friday last the hon. member for Vancouver-Quadra (Mr. Green) and the hon. member for Lake Centre (Mr. Diefenbaker) requested the production of certain correspondence with reference to offers on the part of certain organizations to provide auxiliary services for the troops in Korea and replies thereto. In accordance with that request I now wish to table the correspondence referred to.

Hon. Lionel Chevrier (Minisier of Transport) moved

that the house go into committee at the next sitting to consider the following resolution:

That it is expedient, for the purpose of providing a deep waterway between Montreal and lake Erie, to create a corporation to be called "The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority" with power, inter alia, to expropriate; to construct, maintain and operate all necessary works; to borrow amounts not exceeding three hundred million dollars; to establish tariffs of tolls and to employ such officers and employees as may be required for the purposes of the authority.

He said: His Excellency the Governor General, having been made acquainted with the subject matter of this resolution, recommends it to the consideration of the house.

Mr. George A. Drew (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct a question to the Prime Minister, of which I believe he has received notice. This question has been directed to him in the absence of the Secretary of State for External Affairs (Mr. Pearson).

When may some interim payment be expected to relieve the truly desperate plight of some of those Canadians who suffered as a result of Japanese action during the last war? In that respect I would point out that there are large assets available which give assurance of a return to the government, in respect of any such payment which may be made. There are many people who have waited for six years, without any payment having been made. Some of them to my knowledge, and I am sure to the knowledge of the government, are really in a desperate position today.

Right Hon. L. S. St. Laurent (Prime

Minister): It is quite true that some of those who have submitted claims are in a position that would make us very glad if interim payments can be made. Some weeks ago the matter was referred to Mr. Justice Ilsley, the commissioner inquiring into the matter of war claims that have been submitted, and a most interesting and lengthy report was received from him the other day. Copies of this report have been submitted to members of council for their individual consideration, but we have not yet had an opportunity of co-ordinating our views in respect to it.

Mr. Justice Ilsley points out that there are some rather serious risks involved in making interim payments, in that prejudice might be caused to other possible claimants. Some of the cases which are the most sympathetic would appear to be borderline in character. The question arises as to whether the claims of all those having Canadian nationality shall be recognized or whether there shall be

Inquiries of the Ministry a more restricted determination of those whose claims will be recognized. There are at least two of those which would appear to be worthy of the most sympathy which would involve a wide definition of Canadians entitled to claims.

I hope that the number of claims that will have to be considered for interim payment will not be great and that the risk to the treasury, even though ultimately they were not included in the classes recognized, will not involve a substantial sum. It is a risk that might be taken because of the distress of those who are urging such claims. The matter is receiving constant attention and I intend to ask my colleagues at the earliest possible opportunity for their views after they have had the opportunity to consider the pros and cons set out in the report received from Mr. Justice Ilsley.

There will be more information as to the exact factual situation available when question No. 8 on the order paper is answered.

I hope that that may be answered, if not tomorrow at least not later than Monday next. We are making a compilation of the information requested by the question which will pretty well cover the general factual situation. I trust that we may be able to recommend that whatever risks are involved in dealing sympathetically with these claims for interim payment may be taken.

Mr. Drew:

I appreciate the difficulties

which the Prime Minister has pointed out in regard to differentiation between the different types of claims. Without extending the discussion too much I would nevertheless urge that if possible immediate consideration be given to claims such as those by widows of husbands who died from starvation or ill treatment and who themselves have little or no earning power today and are thus in a position of great hardship. I need hardly point out that we are only a month away from Christmas and into the winter season and great encouragement would be given to a number of people who are in most difficult positions if they had some assurance that their cases, as distinguished from claims by large companies in respect to the sinking of ships and things of that kind, would be dealt with in the way of some interim allowance that would at least take care of their immediate requirements.

Mr. St. Laurent:

The hon. member said that the war has been over for some six years, but all hon. members appreciate that we could not deal with these problems until the peace treaty was signed. In anticipation of the signing of the peace treaty this advisory commission on war claims was set up. It is not intended to adjudicate at the

moment on the individual claims but only as to the priority that should be given to claims for personal injury or for the death of heads of families and so forth over property claims, but the whole matter will be dealt with just as expeditiously as possible. We do appreciate that there has been considerable delay in getting the treaty signed and that there should now be as little delay as possible in implementing what has become possible under the treaty.