Evening star., 1948-06-12
Senate Action Paves
Way for Military Aid
To Western Europe
By J. A. O'Leory

Military as well as economic
aid to Western Europe may be-
come a part of this country's
effort to insure peace, as the
result of action taken by the
Senate yesterday.
Without committing itself in ad-
vance to any specific arrangement,
the Senate Endorsed the principle OF
regional defense pacts among like
minded nations to discourage ag-
gression until the world is ready to
give the United Nations organization
the force it needs to prevent wars
from starting.
BY a vote of 64 to 4, it adopted the
Vandenberg resolution recommend
ing six steps to make the U. N. a
more effective peace agency, in
Guiding general Endorsement OF the
regional agreements authorized by
one section of the charter.
House Action Not Required.
Since the resolution requires no
action by the House. it does not
have the force of law. Its approval
was another important milestone in
the development of existing bi-
partisan foreign policy, however,
because it holds out to the anti
Communist countries OF western
Europe the hope of later action by
the United States, looking to their
mutual defense.
1t is not expected that any spe-
cific agreements growing out OF the
resolution will be submitted to Con-
gress before the end of this year.
Only Senators Pepper. Democrat,
of Florida, offered any serious re-
sistance to the regional defense pact
plan, and when the roll was called
on final passage, he picked up the
support Of Senators LANCER, Re-
of North Dakota; Wat
kins, Republican, of Utah, and Tay-
lor, Democrat, of Idaho. The latter
is running for Vice President on
the Wallace third party ticket.
Earlier a motion by Senator Pep
per, to strike out reference to re-
gional agreements, was lost. 81 to 6.
KEN, Malone Support Pepper.
Senators KEN OF Missouri and
Malone of Nevada, both Republic
ans, supported the Pepper amend
ment, but on final passage they did
not vote because they were paired
with two absentee supporters of the
resolution. s..t rso.a-
Senator Vandenberg assured the
Senate it's action does not mean
automatic military alliances" but
is plan for American cooperation
with like minded nations, within
the framework of the U. NJ, to keep
the peace. The Michigan Repub-
lican said it would serve as a warn
ing to any possible aggressor who
might sneer at any arguments save
those of force"
Senator Pepper. however called it
a return to the old balance-of-
power method of preventing war,
and insisted the U. N. could never
become central peace enforcement
agency If the world is divided into
three camps. He had reference to
the Rio pact between this country
and South America. the proposed
Western European defense group,
and The Soviet bloc.
Similar Move in House.
While the Vandenberg resolution
goes direct to the President in the
form OF advice" the question is due
to come up separately in the House.
The Foreign Affairs Committee Of
that body has approved a similar
declaration of policy, but has written
it into q bill authorizing S65 ,000, 900
fund to erect the new United Natiorr
building in New York City. If the
Houses passes that bill. the Senate
will have to act on the proposal
again, and send it to the President,
If the building fund is to be pro-
vided.
Other steps which the Senate
resolution suggests for strengthening
U. N. include efforts to modify the
Security Councils veto power, crea-
ton Of the U. N. armed force con-
templated in the charter, and efforts
to bring about multi-lateral dis
agreements.