Evening star., 1942-12-04
Senate Group Fears
Roosevelt May Usurp
Peacemaking Power
Punomu Aid Bill Stirs
Attack on Poets Made
By Executive Order
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
A fear that President Roose-
welt might make a peace settle
ment after the war without con-
sulting Congress was held before
the Senate today by opponents
of legislation to turn United
States property in Panama over
to that republic.
A minority attack on the admin
istration for not having submitted
the Atlantic Charter, the United Ma
tions' pact to refrain from making a
separate peace and other interna-
tional agreements to the Senate for
ratification grew out of yesterdays s
discussion of joint resolution au-
thorizing the Panama transfer.
Senator johnson, Republican, of
California was expected to conclude
debate in opposition to the resolu-
tion today, with the administration
confident Of its adoption. Opponents
held that the transfer should have
been submitted in a treaty, requiring
ratification by tWo-thirds vote Of
the Senate, rather than by legisla-
ton which requires only majority
vote Of both houses.
Taft Sees Danger.
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio
declared that unless Congress curbs
what he called an administration
tendency to make international ar
rangements by executive agreement
I'VE may find it reaching an inter-
national settlement without any
consultation with Congress or the
people
Senator Clark, Democrat, OF
Missouri, said a friend told him it
was common talk" in the State
Department that instead of sub
mitting a peace treaty to Congress
at the end of the present war, ar
rangements would be concluded by
executive agreements.
On the other hand, Majority
Leader Barkley said he had heard
mo suggestion" that such course
was even under consideration.
Senator Taft, while asserting he
concurred in the principles of the
Atlantic Charter and the mutua,
aid agreement among the United
Nations, declared they represented q
statement Of policy and were not
| binding on Congress.
Usurpation Feared.
There is q tendency toward ex-
ecutive usurpation of power in the
foreign fleld as in domestic legis-
lation," Senator Taft asserted. II
Is unfortunate" he said because
foreign governments assume such
agreements are an obligation on the
United States"
Il do not believe that Congress
is bound to make any treaty carry
ing out the policies of the Atlantic
Charter" Senator Taft added
He and Senator Danaher, Re-
publican, of Conn, declared that
Secretary Of State Hull's attempt
to incorporate the Atlantic Charter
in lease-lend agreements with China
and Canada ''is wholly void and not
binding on the United States Gov
ernment."
"It is terribly important the world
| should understand this so as not tC
mistake the nature Of the agree
ments,' added Senator Vandenberg
Republican, of Michigan.
The resolution under considera-
ton would transfer to Panama Ger.
tain property there owned by the
United States, including water anc
sewage systems, and cancel a 81
100000 debt to the Export Import
Bank.
Nye Hits Proposal
Senator Nye, Republican, of North
Dakota, said the proposed legisla
ton apparently stemmed from "ar
unusually liberal moment in the lif,
Of Santa Claus" and if it came be.
fore the Senate at all, it should bt
in the form OF treaty. He said hi
had been unable to discover any
military need for it, nor any recorc
of diplomatic pressure by Panama
for its enactment.
Senator Gillette, Democrat, OF
Iowa said he was opposed to the
resolution form because it marked
"a trend to bypass the Senate in
treaty-making power" but that the
"end to be attained" of averting ir-
ritation on the part of Panama "is
worth the effort
Chairman Connally of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee ex-
planned that under the Constitu-
ton Congress alone can transfer
title to property owned by the
United States Even if the transfer
had been negotiated and ratified
in a treaty, he said, I'VE would have
to pass an act divesting the United
States Of title in the real estate"
Panama, he said, for years had
put forth the claim that it was a
reflection on it's sovereignty for a
foreign government to own pronertv