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CANADIAN LANDSCAPES/ PAYSAGES CANADIENS
end of the 1930s, Rose had developed a solid reputation and base of support
among workers in Montreal, which would be vital in the future. Even though
the French-Canadian working class was largely suspicious of Jews, and often
even anti-Semitic, Rose was regarded by many French-Canadian militant
workers as “un bon gars”, “un des notres”, “un ami”, etc., a reputation he jus¬
tifiably earned because “Fred Rose was particularly interested in the unequal
status of French Canada in Confederation, and the alleviation of economic
disparity in the country” (Weisbord 56).
World War II officially began on September 3, 1939, breaking out less than
two weeks after the signing of the Molotov—Ribbentrop Pact between Germany
and the Soviet Union. Communists worldwide had to see the war effort of
Great Britain and France as one of capitalism and imperialism. The Soviet
alliance with Germany had immediate repercussions on all Communists who
toed the Stalinist line. The Soviet reversal from seeking an anti-Fascist front
to being Germany’s ally in the destruction of Poland meant that Communists
became even more feared by Canadians. The Communist Party was banned,
certain Communists were arrested, and for three years Fred Rose and other
loyal Communists had to go into hiding (Weisbord 112).°
The German-led invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941 is regarded
by many historians as the turning point in W WIL It was also the turning point
in Allied relations with the Soviet Union, and all loyal Communists were then
expected to support the Grand Alliance of the Soviet Union, Great Britain,
and after Pearl Harbor, the United States. For Fred Rose and other Communists
their political fortunes suddenly changed as the Soviet Red Army stood fast
after suffering terrible losses against the Axis horde at the gates of Moscow
and Leningrad, and “the hero of hour was Uncle Joe Stalin... For the time being,
Uncle Joe, benign, mustached, with a thick head of hair, a pipe, and a twinkle
in his eye was adored on both sides of the world as a champion of freedom
from Nazi oppression. In Canada, the Communist Party acquired a new legit¬
imacy” (Watson 555). For the King Government it became diplomatically
impossible to continue outlawing the Communist Party and seeking the arrest
of their leaders in hiding. Fred Rose, on behalf of all 13 Communist Party
fugitives, secretly met Undersecretary of State for External Affairs, Lester
Pearson, on “a boat trip down the Ottawa River” and agreed to give themselves
up to police on September 25, 1942. Rose and his fellow comrades volunta¬
rily subjected themselves to questioning, and after 11 days in jail were released
and allowed to resume their political activity (Weisbord 112).’ Due to a legal
technicality in Regulation 39C of the Defence of Canada Regulations, the
© The arrest and internment of both fascists, communists, etc. was done under section 21 of the
War Measures Act.
7 The 11-day stretch in prison had a comical feel to it with Ontario premier, Mitchell Hepburn,
“bringing chocolates, like Santa Claus” to the prisoners (Weisbord 113).
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