Paul Martin, Secretary of State for External Affairs, in reply to a Canadian Jewish Congress letter in which speedy ratification by Canada of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was urged, advised that officials of his Department have begun to study the question of signature and ratification by Canada.
“I can assure you that the important views of the Canadian Jewish Congress will be Kept in mind, ” Secretary Martin wrote. He referred to the interview a Congress delegation, led by Saul Hayes, had with him in Ottawa on January II.
“As I said on January II to the delegation from the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Canadian Government strongly supported the adoption of this Convention by the United Nations and regards it as a very important document requiring serious study by the Government, ” the communication stated. “During our discussion on January 11, I mentioned that there might have to be consultation with provincial governments on the matter of implementation of certain parts of the Convention. “
The Minister then referred to the statement made by the Canadian delegate in the Third Committee of the General Assembly on December 15 when the Canadian delegation voted in favor of the adoption of the Convention and emphasized that “we regard this document as another of the great pioneering instruments by means of which the United Nations is laying the ground rules for civilized life on an ever widening scale. We hope that it will attract wide support, and that it will enjoy a long, useful life. “
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
