Clear Voice

Of the Western Hemisphere's statesmen, Canada's Louis St. Laurent was one of the first to speak out for a North Atlantic Treaty. Last week, as the pact was about to be signed in Washington (see NATIONAL AFFAIRS), Prime Minister St. Laurent faced the ever-present problem of the democratic leader: would his own Parliament buy the plan which he had helped sell to others?

The Prime Minister had reason to worry. For 43 days, he and Progressive Conservative Leader George Drew had been wrestling over every issue. Tories and Liberals, with an eye to this year's election, had been swinging at each other at every opportunity. Would Drew oppose the pact, and thereby harvest votes in isolationist Quebec?

Louis St. Laurent took no chances. For the benefit of French-Canadian voters, he praised the pact as a bulwark against Communism. He also alerted his Minister of National Defense, Brooke Claxton, just in case Drew charged hypocrisy in entering an alliance without the power to back it up.

All the precautions were unnecessary. In a statesmanlike, 6,000-word speech, Opposition Leader Drew backed the pact 100%. Said Drew: "I hope that this House . . . will speak with one clear and ringing voice." After that. Defense Minister Claxton tore up the long rebuttal he had prepared. Beaming, St. Laurent popped out of his seat, strode across the aisle to wring George Drew's hand. Parliament approved the North Atlantic Treaty by a vote of 149 to 2.

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