The Washington times., 1935-12-28
Who Decides
US. Foreign
Policy?
By James T. Williams, Jr.

OIAOCo OCL1d0C GAAC4C 4Aoo oSlOOln
been a more arrogant usurpation
of power than the attempt by q
special committee temporarily set
up to investigate the traffic in
munitions of war to take over the
duties Of the Committee on For.
eign Relations and the Senate
Committees on Military Affairs
and Naval Affairs.
This special committee of which
Senator Nye of North Dakota OBJ
tanned the Craftsmanship will
doubtless attempt at the coming
session of Congress to get an addi'
tional appropriation to continue
it's socalled investigation. Before
this money is voted, the Senate
would be we'll advised to consider
the following questions:
Why should the Committee on
Foreign Relations-"the great
committee of the Senate"-abdi-
cate its authority as the agent Of
the Senate in examining and max.
ing recommendations regarding
questions of foreign policy to a
special committee temporarily set
up to inquire into the traffic in
munitions of war?
SENATE RULES
Why should the Committee on
Military Affairs and Naval Affairs
abdicate their authority to recon-
mend to the Senate what should
be done to provide for "the COM
mon defense" to special commit
tee temporarily charged with in
quiring into the munitions traffic?
With the authority granted
these three standing committees
of the Senate goes a commensu.
rate responsibility.
Under the rules of the Senate
all proposals having to do with
foreign relations or foreign policy
are referred to the consideration
of the Committee on Foreign Re.
lations.
Under the rules of the Senate
matters relating to the military es-
tablishment are referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs
and those relating to the naval
establishment go to the Commit.
tee on Naval Affairs.
The rules of the Senate in this
regard ought never to be violated
by the Senate. Nor should they
be changed without the most Sc
rious consideration by the entire
Senate.
If the membership Of the Com.
mittee on Foreign Relations is so
lacking in intelligence as no longer
to qualify the committee to dis
charge its duties, the present men,
bership should be replaced by COM
petent Senators.
And the same course should be
followed in regard to the member.
ship of the Committees on Military
Affairs and Naval Affairs if as
now constituted they are found
incompetent to perform their du-
ties under the rules.
Under no circumstances, how
ever, should the special committee
of which Mr.. Nye got himself ap-
pointed chairman be permitted
longer to pose before the public
as the agent of the Senate in
major matters relating to foreign
policy and the common defense.
The circumstances under which
Senator Nye got himself appointed
chairman of the So-caled Mum.
tionS Committee and the coalition
of special interests which have
thus far dictated the course of
that special committee were laid
before the Senate at its last SeS-
sion in a memorable speech de-
livered by Senator Dickinson of
Iowa.
These circumstances will be re-
lated in detail in a subsequent
article.
In the meantime, however, the
American people may we'll be
warned against the nature of the
proposals which Senator Nye an
nounces he will make when Con-
greSS reconvenes concerning the
traditional American policy of
neutrality.
GUERRILLA WARFARE
What has Senator Nye's special
committee to do with the Amer
lean policy Of neutrality?
The Senate has never authorized
Mr.. Nye or his associates to sub
nit any proposals in this regard.
This is a matter within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on
Foreign Relations. Neither Mr..
Nye nor Senator Clark of Mis-
souri, was listed as member Of
this committee at the last session
of Congress.
The truth is that an attempt is
under way by a coalition of po.
litical sappers outside the Senate
to use the Nye special committee
to advance legislation inimical
to American institutions which
tho com rnifteeS on Elnreipn Rela.