Policy Decisions

Home from the Commonwealth conference in London, where they exchanged views with other Commonwealth leaders, Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent and External Affairs Chief Lester Pearson last week were prepared to announce some firm decisions about Canadian foreign policy.

P: Despite the pressure from India and other Asia neutrals, Canada will stick to its policy against granting diplomatic recognition to Communist China. "I recognize the force of the arguments about the importance to Asia of having its largest country fully participating in the councils of the world," St. Laurent told Parliament. "But there are other considerations . . . and I see no reason strong enough to justify changing our policy."

P: Canada will not sell jet planes to Israel to strengthen its air defense against Communist-armed Egypt. The Canadian government favored the sale at first, but discreetly declined to be the goat when Britain and the U.S. backed away from similar deals. Said St. Laurent: "We do not feel that ... it should be a responsibility left to the government of Canada."

P: External Affairs Chief Lester Pearson, who was appointed two months ago, along with Norway's Halvard Lange and Italy's Gaetano Martino, to make a study of nonmilitary cooperation among members of the NATO alliance, will spend much of his time on that project in coming months. Pearson told a press conference that a long questionnaire had been sent to the 15 NATO capitals inviting suggestions on how the alliance could expand its economic, political and other non-military functions. The Pearson-Lange-Martino committee--"The Three Wise Men,"--will collate the replies and prepare a report for the NATO countries, "for anything they wish to do with it."

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