Page 8 THE NEWS THIS WEEK AND NEXT by Ray Argyle Canada's Changing Status da's middle power status, its lack of colonial ambitions and its close ties with Britain and the United States permitted this country to play a meaningful international role. All this has changed. The fade out of the Cold War between the West and Soviet Russia has renewed national rivalries. be- tween members within the two camps and given rise to revolu- tionary regimes in the underde- veloped world. The great contest is now in Asia, where Communist China's brooding bulk of more than half a billion people provides a pow- er base for a regime of unre- lenting hostility to the United States. The isolation of the U.S. in Vietnam has placed a terrible burden on Washington. The U.S. could win military victory there but only at the price of finding itself embroiled in a generation of bloodletting on the Chinese mainland. The U.S. must eventu- ally seek withdrawal! from Viet- nam, leaving behind a govern- ment in Saigon which will co- alesce with the Viet Cong, re- unify the country under a stable socialist regime which (as was proven in Europe) can be a stronger buffer to nationalism of the Moscow or Peking variety than the feudal serfdoms which the U.S. has supported. The other significant develop- ment of the 1960s has been the 'revolution of rising expecta- tions' among Commonwealth countries of Africa and Asia. Achievement of self-government has split the Commonwealth into black and white segments and, as the fiasco of Rhodesia has proven, rendered it inopera- ble as a cohesive body of like- thinking nations. The demise of the Common- wealth, now rapidly approaching its crucial days, has not been lost on London. The British gov- ernment can no longer afford the billion dollar-plus annual bill of Commonwealth economic and military aid, particularly as these countries are switching their trade away from Britain to the U.S. The lynch-pin will be finally removed when Britain makes its next -- and probably successful -- bid to enter the European Common Market. The question of protecting the Common- ART CLUB NEWS There was a time when Cana-. wealth's trade rights with the United Kingdom will no longer be a vital factor in negotiations with the Common Market. All these events have had a devastating affect on Canada's foreign policy. Despite a respec- table record in U-N peace-keep- ing efforts, Canadian white troops were not allowed in the Congo (only technical advisors were acceptable) and even dur- ing Suez, the Queen's Own Ri- fles were rejected by Egypt be- cause of the Imperial designa- tion of this Canadian regiment. Cyprus was different because all countries involved were mem- bers of NATO. Canada's mem- bership on the International Control Commission in Vietnam has done nothing ,to achieve a settlement there and it is an open secret that Canada has not joined the Organization of American States because Ottawa does not wish to risk offending Washington in inter-American disputes. Canada's failure to achieve a cohesive foreign policy may be a reflection of its lack of a nation- al policy, especially in its rela- tions with the U.S. and our threatened immersion in conti- nentalism. The paradox facing Canada is how to enjoy the economic ben- efits of continentalism without sacrificing the last vestiges of independence, the chief of which must be the right to an independent foreign policy. The answer could be an open form of internationalism based on the one aspect of foreign re- lations in which Canada has been decisive -- a willingness to trade with all comers. From out of trade and cultural relations with all countries can flow po- litical decisions based in logic rather than prejudice. None of these can be more important than diplomatic recognition of Communist China and _ that country's seating at the United Nations. These moves will not of them- selves curb aggression or as- sure global tranquility but they are essential steps on the long journey to that goal. Canada's position in the world will be en- hanced if it is able to devise a foreign policy that is not just an echo of other views. Meeting - Thursday 8 p.m. in the Old Curling Lounge. Members are asked to bring paintings to hang for exhibition. @ EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS SATURDAY, JUNE 25TH - 2-5 and7-9. OLD CURLING LOUNGE EVERYONE WELCOME 21YRS OLD? When you turn 21 you're no longer cov- ered by your parents' Hospital Insurance. To keep insured, you must take out indi- vidual membership within 30 days. Get your application form at a bank, a hospital, or from the Commis- sion. NEWLY WED? The 'family' Hospital Insurance premium must now -be paid to cover husband and wife. Notify your group' without de- lay OR, if you both pay premiums direct, noti- fy the Commission. NEW JOB? To keep insured follow the instructions on the Hospital Insurance Certificate of Payment 'Form 104' that your present employer is required to give you on leaving. Your ONTARIO HOSPITAL INSURANCE Plan Ontario Hospital Services Commission Toronto 7, Ontario June 23, 1960 SILVER BIRCH CHAPTER HOLDS TWO MEETINGS Silver Birch Chapter, #264, O.E.S., helda meeting on Monday, June 13th with Worthy Matron Flora Bryson and Worthy Patron Rev.T .G.Husser presiding. Routine busi- ness and reports were read and accepted and final arrangements were made for a dedication and so- cial the following day. On June |4th a special meeting was held for the purpose of dedicating the new Altar and to honor the maker, Mr.A.Farrow. Sixty members and guests attended the impressive ceremony. Introduced and presen- ted were, Past Grand Patron Wellington Smith of Fort Frances, Past District Deputy Grand Matrons Anna Smith of Fort Frances and Pearl Bell of Port Arthur; Dis- trict Deputy of District 17, Miss Doris Abbott and presiding matrons and patrons, Mrs.Evelyn Ker- ney, Connaught Chapter, Fort William; Mrs.Milli- cent Shannon, Argyle Chapter, Port Arthur; Mr .Robert Ross, Con- naught; Henry Smith of Green Gables, Fort Wil- liam; Joe Shannon, Ar- gyle; Past matrons and patrons, Rebecca Stewart- son, Eveline Robb, Vera Kennedy, Doris Basuik, Helen Wallace, 'Althea Fraser, Elizabeth Harris, Dorothy Rummery, Alice Farrow, Barbara Haughn, Harris Haughn, Albert Farrow and Charles Sitch. An Eastern Star bible was presented to the chapter by Robert Ross of Connaught Chapter . A social and buffet luncheon followed, served by Mrs.Noreen Coe and her committee of Jean Rober ts, Tina Young, Norma Fummerton, Eva Haughn, Minnie Bryant and Margery Lundberg. Six Chapter members attended a meeting in the Lakehead on Friday. Those making the trip were Edna Beddard, Althea Fraser, Flora Bryson, Alice Farrow, Vera Kennedy and Barbara Haughn. The d d Contin 9