Mr. SAMUEL FACTOR (Spadina):

Mr. *Speaker, may I congratulate the hon. member

(Mr. Heon) who has just taken his seat upon his fine, sincere and eloquent address.

On April 8, 1937, just about two and a half years ago, I had the privilege of addressing this house on the Canada-Germany trade agreement. My observations in that connection are to be found at page 2736 of Hansard for that year. At that time I spoke of the violence, the terror and the brutality directed by the nazi regime against a vast number of law-abiding and God-fearing people of all races and creeds. I appealed to hon. members and to all my fellow-Canadians, lovers of French chivalry and traditional British freedom, to raise their voices against Hitlerism, which had set a path of conquest and destruction. Mine was a lone voice in parliament at that time.

To-day, sir, we are plunged into this terrible tragedy called war. It is not of our making; we wanted peace. Great Britain and France wanted peace; but Hitler, the economic and social destroyer of minorities, the suppressor of the Catholic church, the persecutor of that brave Protestant pastor and servant of the church, Niemoller, has flaunted the opinion of the world's most civilized nations, and has made war upon us. Upon his head, sir, lies the blood and guilt of the many lives that will be sacrificed by the democracies on the altar of liberty.

How then, under these circumstances, can anyone oppose the rendering by Canada of such assistance as is essential? If the war is to be won against autocracy and national savagery, all that we are asked to do in this parliament to-day is to express our firm determination to do all we can to help Great Britain and France, the motherlands from which the two races in Canada have sprung. I cannot conceive, sir, how any of my fellow-citizens in any of the provinces of Canada can refuse whole-heartedly to support brave Britain and heroic France in this battle with the forces of evil and injustice.

Mr. Speaker, I am a Canadian. I was never more proud than I am to-day of being a British subject living under the far-flung union jack. I represent a large and cosmopolitan constituency. I do not represent any particular race or creed, but rather I represent all Canadians. But I am a member of a race and faith which throughout its history has stood and suffered for the principles of democracy. I belong to a minority that appreciates the blessings of liberty, such as we enjoy under the British system of government.

As one who took a small part in the last war, and who is ready to serve again, I can tell you, sir, speaking on behalf of my coreligionists in this country, that we are to a

The Address-Mr. Harris

man with Great Britain and France in the war these two great nations have been forced to wage to save not only civilization but our very souls. Canada has been generous to our race. All that we are we owe to our fellow-citizens, and we are ready to do all we can to destroy that system which has enslaved the German people and which seeks and threatens to extend its sway.

Before I conclude, sir, may I be permitted to pay a well deserved tribute to the Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King) for the splendid judgment he showed and the patience he exhibited during the very trying days which preceded England's declaration of war.

Mr. Speaker, those connected with the Liberal, Conservative, Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and Social Credit parties, French-Canadians, English-Canadians, Jews and Gentiles are to-day all Canadians; and as a united people we shall carry on to the victory that will be ours.

Mr. SAMUEL FACTOR (Spadina):

Mr. *Speaker, may I congratulate the hon. member

(Mr. Heon) who has just taken his seat upon his fine, sincere and eloquent address.

On April 8, 1937, just about two and a half years ago, I had the privilege of addressing this house on the Canada-Germany trade agreement. My observations in that connection are to be found at page 2736 of Hansard for that year. At that time I spoke of the violence, the terror and the brutality directed by the nazi regime against a vast number of law-abiding and God-fearing people of all races and creeds. I appealed to hon. members and to all my fellow-Canadians, lovers of French chivalry and traditional British freedom, to raise their voices against Hitlerism, which had set a path of conquest and destruction. Mine was a lone voice in parliament at that time.

To-day, sir, we are plunged into this terrible tragedy called war. It is not of our making; we wanted peace. Great Britain and France wanted peace; but Hitler, the economic and social destroyer of minorities, the suppressor of the Catholic church, the persecutor of that brave Protestant pastor and servant of the church, Niemoller, has flaunted the opinion of the world's most civilized nations, and has made war upon us. Upon his head, sir, lies the blood and guilt of the many lives that will be sacrificed by the democracies on the altar of liberty.

How then, under these circumstances, can anyone oppose the rendering by Canada of such assistance as is essential? If the war is to be won against autocracy and national savagery, all that we are asked to do in this parliament to-day is to express our firm determination to do all we can to help Great Britain and France, the motherlands from which the two races in Canada have sprung. I cannot conceive, sir, how any of my fellow-citizens in any of the provinces of Canada can refuse whole-heartedly to support brave Britain and heroic France in this battle with the forces of evil and injustice.

Mr. Speaker, I am a Canadian. I was never more proud than I am to-day of being a British subject living under the far-flung union jack. I represent a large and cosmopolitan constituency. I do not represent any particular race or creed, but rather I represent all Canadians. But I am a member of a race and faith which throughout its history has stood and suffered for the principles of democracy. I belong to a minority that appreciates the blessings of liberty, such as we enjoy under the British system of government.

As one who took a small part in the last war, and who is ready to serve again, I can tell you, sir, speaking on behalf of my coreligionists in this country, that we are to a

The Address-Mr. Harris

man with Great Britain and France in the war these two great nations have been forced to wage to save not only civilization but our very souls. Canada has been generous to our race. All that we are we owe to our fellow-citizens, and we are ready to do all we can to destroy that system which has enslaved the German people and which seeks and threatens to extend its sway.

Before I conclude, sir, may I be permitted to pay a well deserved tribute to the Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King) for the splendid judgment he showed and the patience he exhibited during the very trying days which preceded England's declaration of war.

Mr. Speaker, those connected with the Liberal, Conservative, Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and Social Credit parties, French-Canadians, English-Canadians, Jews and Gentiles are to-day all Canadians; and as a united people we shall carry on to the victory that will be ours.

Mr. FACTOR:

Is the United States any nearer a solution?

Mr. FACTOR:

Substantial orders.

Mr. FACTOR:

With all due respect to the leader of the opposition, I think it would be a mistake to have either the chief of general staff or the ordnance officer on the purchasing board. Presumably the board is to be set up for the purpose of keeping a check on the requisitions put in by the Department of National Defence. Before putting in a requisition for war munitions, that department is likely to consult the very official who subsequently would be on the purchasing board, and the two duties of that officer would conflict. _ .

I believe the personnel of the board should comprise persons altogether apart from the Department of National Defence, and be persons who would be able to check up on all requisitions put in by that department.