Opposition to the Fore

CANADA Opposition to the Fore

Canada's Liberal Party, out of power since its upset defeat by the Conservatives last June, met in Ottawa lastweek to pick a new leader. The delegates' choice: Lester Bowles ("Mike") Pearson, 60, former Secretary of State for External Affairs and winner of the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in creating the United Nations Emergency Force for the Middle East.

With all his political assets, Mike Pearson still had to make a fight for it. His chief adversary: Paul Martin, 54, former Minister of Health and Welfare and a principal architect of Canada's extensive social security system. But in the end Pearson's international reputation, easily transferred into prestige at home, carried him to a comfortable first-ballot victory. He takes over the party controls this week from Louis St. Laurent, 75, Prime Minister for nine years until last summer's election, who retired to make way for a younger man.

The Liberals, spiritless and ineffectual in the House of Commons since their defeat, showed signs of reviving confidence. In a noisy three-day convention watched by a nationwide TV audience of millions, speakers hotly accused Tory Prime Minister John Diefenbaker of antagonizing Canada's best customer, the U.S., with talk of diverting trade to Britain. The speakers linked the Conservatives' trade policies with Canada's economic slowdown and fast-rising unemployment.

The Liberals, with almost as many seats (106) in the House of Commons as the Conservatives (113), have refused so far to vote no confidence in the government and so precipitate another election. But now with a new leader, a fresh platform and reawakened aggressiveness, they may decide to join forces with one of the two minor parties, vote down the government, compel a new election. Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, watching the Liberal convention last week on TV from his bedroom, where he was recuperating from a wrenched back, gave back the challenge. He was expected to call for a new vote of confidence this week, dare the Liberals to deny it and go to the country.

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