Evening star., 1943-12-30
Gillette Urges Change
In 'Two-Thirds Rule
For Treaty Approval
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Abandonment of the constitu-
tional requirement that treaties
must be ratified by two-thirds ma
jority Of the Senate was urged today
by Senator Gillette, Democrat, of
Iowa, as a means OF forestalling any
attempt to bypass Congress in the
making of peace.
Long an advocate of a constitu-
tional amendment revising the rigid
rule under which he said "a small
group of men can thwart the will of
a vast majority" Senator Gillette
told reporters he had observed
growing sentiment for a change"
1.-THE effect of the existing pro-
vision under which a two thirds
majority of Senators present must
approve treaties has been to in
luence Presidents to transact busi-
ness with other nations under execu-
tive agreements not requiring Sem
ate approval" the Iowan declared.
Would Remove Excuses.
ut is wise and essential to pre-
pare for the coming peace by re-
moving this obstacle and at the
same time all logical or plausible
excuse for President to refuse or
neglect to submit any treaties deal
ing with postwar peace and eco
nomic welfare to Congress.
Senator Gillette said a Judiciary
Subcommittee headed by Senator
Connally, Democrat, of Texas, prob
ably would begin consideration early
in the year of four possible substi-
tutes for the present provision.
One would permit ratification by
a amajority of Senators present, an
other by a majority of the Senate's
enrolled membership, third by a
majority of the Senate and House
and fourth would rewrite the
treaty, making provision to stipulate
that the President shall have
power to make and negotiate
treaties, which would not become
effective except on approval by ma
jority vote of the Senate.
Senator White, Republican. of
Maine also proposed that the SEN
ate act speedily to draw a line be-
tween executive agreements and
treaties as result of a Belgian
leaders suggestion that peace be
declared without a treaty.
Cites Hague Convention.
The idea that warning countries
might declare the end of hostilities
and delay the signing of a treaty
was advanced by Gen. Marcel de
Baer, Belgian member of the Lon
don Allied commission to investi-
gate war crimes. who laid 1t before
the State Department.
Gen. de Baer argued that The
Hague convention and other rules
lof international law would prevent
the junking of Germany,s Nazi legal
system during an armistice, giving
German courts the right to try
criminals not held by other coun-
tries. He advocated speedy reor-
|ganization of Germany and the
signing of treaty only after that
country develops into a nation ac-
ceptable to the family of peace
loving states.
Senator White said, Il think 1t
would be a good thing for the SEN
ate to proceed at once to define
by resolution the grounds that can
be covered in an executive agree
ment and what falls within the con-
fines of treaty."
Gillette Opposes Plan.
Gen. de Baer's plan apparently
would point toward executive action
to end the war, possibly to be sub
mitted for approval by a ma ajority
vote Of Congress.
Senator Gillette said he believed
no agency of the Government has
any right to commit this country to
such a plan as Gen. de Baer pro-
posed.
THE American people, through
their Congress and under constitu-
tional authority, have declared war,
Gillette said. TT is the American
people, also through their Congress
and under constitutional authority
who will make the peace.
Il am unalterably opposed to the
conception of twilight zone be-
tween war and peace"