Oldal 168 [168]
OCR
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 justifiably 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 legitimacy” (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 voluntarily 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). + 166 +
