Evening star., 1949-02-22
Atlantic Pact
CONTINUED From First Page,

co-ordinating all foreign aid pro-
grams. heads a group working on
the military aid legislation. The
committee also includes Maj. Gen.
Lyman Lemnitzer, representing
Secretary Of Defense Forrestal and
Alexander Henderson. general
counsel of the Economic Cooper
alton Administration.
President Truman gave notice
of his intention to seek authority
to carry out such a program In
his inaugural message, in which
he listed military assistance to CO.
operating nations as one Of the
essentials of his foreign policy,
The exact language of the At
lantic defense pact has remained
secret but an influential Demo-
cratic Senator said it will give
signatory nations assurances the
United States will not stand idly
by in case of attack.
Psychological Weapon.
Some other Senators said they
fear the drive to get approval of
the treaty by the necessary two
thirds Senate vote might bring
some between Lines interpre-
tations that would destroy its USE
fulness as psychological weapon.
Senator Vandenberg, Republi-
can of Michigan. already has told
the Senate what he thinks about
the psychological value of the pro-
posed agreement between this
country. Canada, Great Britain,
France, Belgium, the Netherlands
and Luxembourg.
He said, in effect, that any coun-
try probably will hesitate to move
in a military way so long as there
Is treaty notice that the United
States will take vital interest in
any aggression.
But Senator Donnell, Republi-
can Of Missouri, already has made
1t plain he will insist that there
be no advance commitment.-even
an implied one-that this country
will fight.
Senator Donnell told a reporter
he hasn't seen the language SUBJ
mitted to the Foreign Relations
Committee. He will have to judge
for himself later whether to op-
pose or support it. he said.
Outright critics Of the treaty are
likely to go much further than
Senator Donnell did in trying to
tie down action under the meas
ure.
Because the Senate's debate will
have much to do with world ac-
ceptance Of the agreement, sup
porters Of strong commitments
will try to counter any such move
In fact. some of the group may
say in outside speeches before the
treaty arrives formally in the Sen
ate that this country will have to
fight Russia If the Soviets move to
take over Western Europe.
Senator Knowland, Republican,
of California gave a hint Of this
when he told the Senate that this
country couldn't sit back "twid-
ding our thumbs. so to speak, :"
while nation after nation in
Europe was being overrun by an
aggressor power"
Senator Donnell has said he will
protest if the agreement includes
something which is going to in
volve-or may be justly and rea-
sonably said by the other sigma
tories to involve-a moral commit
ment to go to war;
The Missouri Senator's reaction
is regarded as important by Senate
leaders because they believe he
represents the thinking of a
fringe" group which might swing
either way on the treaty question.
If all Senators voted, leaders
would have to muster support Of
81 of the So to get treaty ap-
proval.
That was the reason, it was re-
ported, that Senator Vandenberg
and Chairman Connally Of the
Foreign Relations Committee
rushed to reassure Senator Don
nell and those of like mind the
pact wouldn't rob Congress of its
right to declare war.