Evening star., 1945-07-25
Lucas Declares
Vote on Charter
|Wi|| Bind U. 5.
Denies Thot Treoty
Will Be Necessary to
AIIot Armed Forces
By GOULD LINCOLN.

ny OOULD LlNCGsLN.
Challenging the contention of
John Foster Dulles, adviser to
the United States delegation at
the United Nations Conference,
and Senator Wheeler, Democrat,
OF Montana that an agreement
allocating American armed forces
to the proposed Security Coun-
Gil must be a treaty, Senator
Lucas, Democrat, of Illinois ar
gued today that such al agree
ment, implementing the Char
ter now about to be ratified by
the Senate, should be approved
by congressional legislative ac-
ton.
This matter, Senator Lucas told
the Senate, should be cleared I'D
now, while the Charter is under con-
sideration, not at some later date.
He said the United States, after it
has ratified the Charter and become
a member of the United Nations
organization, will be under absolute
obligation to furnish armed forces
to the Security Council.
The point I want to reiterate,"
Senator Lucas said, ''is that when
we pass this Charter, we obligate
ourselves to the other nations
signatory to this pact to supply mill
tary forces to engage in interna-
tional police work in order to avoid
war.
Not Treaty Matter.
THE details of this commitment,
such as the exact amount of the
forces to be contributed and the
places where they are to be sta
toned, is not a matter for treaty
consideration, but is matter solely
for legislative sanction by Con-
gress"
Senator Lucas said he based his
contention on the Constitution
itself. which gives Congress the
power to raise and support military
and naval forces.
The Illinois Senator also contend
ed that the use of these allocated
armed forces by the Security Coun-
Gil to help maintain peace cannot
be construed as making war" He
said, when the United States dele
gate ION the Security CounciD, act
ing under the authority of the Pres
ident, calls forth a military contin-
gent of the United States under the
special agreement for the supply Of
forces, such action would not con-
stitute an act of war by the United
States, but rather participation in
international police action in pur-
suance of a specific treaty obliga-
ton. 1t would, in fact, be an action
to prevent war"
Power of Congress Stands.
''The exclusive power of the Con-
gress to declare war is not affected
by this arrangement" Senator Lucas
continued. Enforcement action
under the Charter will involve only
the forces pledged under these spe-
cial agreements, while war, on the
other hand. when declared by Con-
gress, would amount to a complete
breakdown in international rela-
tionS and a decision to devote the
total resources of the United States
to securing the safety of this
country
Senator Lucas said an entirely
new system of international COL
lective security is being set up. He
said the sovereignty of the United
States is in no way impaired by
these arrangements because the
concurring vote of the United
States will be required before our
forces can be called upon by the
council.
Asserting that the Importance of
the Charter cannot be overesti-
mated and that it will mark the
beginning of a lasting peace, Sena-
tor Lucas urged that no Senator
vote for it with complacency and
indifference"
Let no one vote for it because he
believes it politically dangerous to
do otherwise" he said. Let no one
vote for this world document, with
all OF its solemn implications toward
keeping the peace, with the belief
that some day when the implement
ing statutes and the special agree
ments come to us for congressional
action then will be the hour to draw
the military teeth from this new in
ternational agreement.
Should Offer Changes Now.
Now is the time to advise the
Nations, signatory to this pact, as
well as the people of America, what
the Senate understands this Charter
to mean. If there are those who
have reservations or amendments,
now is the time to present them.
The people of this country will want
to know how every Senator inter-
prets the Charter at this moment,
and not a year hence, when the
special agreements come to us for
congressional action.
Stresses Charters Value.
The value of the Security Council
both as an agency for the peaceful
settlement of international disputes
and as an agency for the enforce
ment of peace, was emphasized by
Senator Burton, Republican, of
Ohio. the first speaker today.
Senator Burton, in his argument
for the Charter, told his colleagues:
The Charter does not approach
Utopia, but it is on the road that
leads toward rather than away from
the practices of the Golden Rule
among men. That is the road to
peace on earth and good will toward
men. /"
He detailed the steps which the
Security Council is directed to take
tSee CHARTER, Page A-35