The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-07-27
Michigan in
Washington
By ESTHER V. w. TuFTY

BY ESTHER V. w. TUFTY
The debate this week in the SEN
ate on ratifying the United Ma
lions Charter Is not the acid test OF
the international attitude OF Con-
gress.
Don't let the unanimity fool you.
The knockout bout will come on an
entirely different treaty: on
seemingly routine piece Of legisla-
ton; or on one that specifies the
role OF the United States delegate
on the World Security Council.
OF course, there is some advant-
age in the fact that when the test
does come the United States alrea.
dy will be a member OF the so ma.
ton organization to outlaw war.
The real battle is not a part
OF the present debate, which is his.
torical but not great. The charter
lacks force to back up a decision
against a wouldbe aggressor, the
old League OF Nations mortal
WEAKNESS.
That force will be provided in
agreements yet to be negotiated by
member nations. Whatever mill.
tary quota Is fixed for the United
States must be ratified by the Sen.
ate. That will be one acid test.
probably the major
Many a senator-not just Hiram
Johnson, OF California-but Wheel.
err Of Montana. McCarran OF Neva-
da. Shipstead OF Minnesota, Mill.
kin OF Colorado, Taft OF Ohio would
come out with those feared ''reser-
vations" except for the ground.
swell OF popular sentiment for the
charter. Besides. they know they
will have another chance when the
military quota treaty reaches the
Senate.
These reservations" concern:
l. Restricting use OF United
States forces to Western hemis.
phere defense.
2. Cracking down on the power
Of the President to use troops.
8. Demanding that Congress
must act ahead OF the United Ma
lions organization before a single
United States soldier can fight.
II point is adopted it's curtains
for the new league.
1t was this delayed showdown
that the Foreign Relations COM
mittse had in mind when 1t eau
toned last week against violations
Of the spirit of the charter"
The Senate has already passed
one acid test-even before the de-
bate on ratification. And q scrap
by fight It was, over the Breton
Woods monetary agreements. In
that action. the fght was all on
the Republican side. Republicans
were calling other Republicans
economic isolationists". COP steer
man Robert A. Taft retorted voic-
ing the fear that the country has
gone "pathologically international"
That Breton Woods vote illus.
trates better than the charter vote
will the basic cleavages. BY cast.
ing his vote for Breton Woods, the
senior senator from Michigan, Ar
thur II. Vandsnberg, aligned him.
self again with the progressive in
ternational-minded faction in his
party.
So this week In the Senate there
is much talk and little fight. 1t
may be momentous that for the sec
ond time In a generation the Sen.
ate is debating the United States
membership in league OF nations,
but 1t will be no encore OF the
defeat of the League of Nations
that followed World War /.
The galleries are only comfort
ably filled. Senators do not stay
n their seats as they do when
debate is bitter and the vote is
close. Senator Vandenberg has
"alerted" himself to stand by to
clarity any Misrepresentation about
the charter.
Said Vandenberg. on the opening
day, This charter is mans best
hope for a safer and better world"
The senators are speaking for
home consumption. The best OF
the debate happened when dele
gates Connally and vandenberg re-
ported to their colleagues on their
return from San Francisco.
Iisolationism won't die in the
Senate this week.