Evening star., 1949-07-07
Flanders Takes Issue
With Vandenberg on
Atlantic Defense Pact
By J. A. O'Leory

Flanders, Republican, of Vermont,
announced he would take issue
with the defense of the treaty
, yesterday by Senator Vandenberg, |
Republican, of Michigan.
Asked if he intends to vote
against the treaty, Senator Flan- |
ders told a reporter Il will with
hold my vote" until further light |
is thrown on the points he intends /,
to raise. His reply was taken toiI
mean he would delay final de-
cision, rather than refrain from
voting when the time comes.
Senator Flanders may take the
floor this afternoon in the Senate
debate on the pact ahead of Sena-
tor Watkins, Republican, of Utah
chief critic of the treaty.
Wherry Sees Delay.
Senate Republican Floor Leader
Wherry of Nebraska said he
thought action on the treaty may
be slowed by reports from the
House side yesterday that Demo-
Gratis plan to start consideration
of the arms program for Western
Europe as soon as the Senate
approves the treaty.
Senator Wherry is another Re-
publican not committing himself
on the treaty. He said today
that starting the arms program
at this session will tend to weaken
: the argument Joined in by Sena-
tors Connally, Democrat. of Texas
- and Vandenberg that the treaty
and the arms program are en-
tirely separate issues.
Meanwhile, Senator O'Conor,
Democrat, of Maryland, an
nounced his support of the treaty
in a statement taking sharp issue
with Henry A. Wallace, who ar
gued recently that it would be
better for this country to concen-
trate on building up trade rela-
tions between Eastern and West
=. ern Europe.
Ratification Expected Soon.
Although the approval of the
pact may be slowed by todays
developments. ratification by well
over the required two-thirds vote
is expected within a few days.
Informal polls indicate over
whelming approval.
North Dakota, and Melone, Repub-
From the start of debate the
opposition vote has been esti-
mated at less than 10. One lead
ing advocate of the pact tried to-
day to add up those he thought
would vote no" and he could not
list more than five.
Plans Two Reservations.
After Senators Connally and
vandenberg had made the OPEN
ing speeches in support of the
treaty, Senator Watkins told re-
porters they had gone long way
toward answering his objec-
tions to it's terms. He indi- |
Gated, however, that he still i,
plans to offer at least two
reservations to stipulate that no
armed forces could be used with
out action by Congress, and that
there is no commitment to declare
war if another treaty nation is
attacked.
Reservations can be attached
to a treaty by majority vote even.
though final ratification requires
two-thirds. Even with this ad-
vantage in his favor, Senator
Watkins has virtually no chance
OF getting any reservations tied
to the treaty.
Senators Connally and Vanden-
berg both emphasized there is no
automatic declaration of war in
volved in the section of the treaty
. which says an attack on one of
the II signatory nations shall be
deemed an attack on all. They
have pointed out each nation is
free to take the action it deems
necessary in any given set of cir
cumstances, and in accordance
with it's constitutional processes.
Senator Vandenberg stressed
the fact yesterday that, in the
case of the United States, the
Constitution makes the President
commander in chief of the armed
forces. AS commander in chief,
Senator Vandenberg pointed out,
the President can-and many
times has-used the armed forces
to protect American life and prop
erty without a declaration of war
Many Senators Listen.
One of the Watkins reservations,
to prevent use of armed forces
without action by Congress, would
be an encroachment on that basic
authority of the President.
An exceptionally large number
of Senators remained motionless
in their seats yesterday while
Senator Vandenberg turned on his
, best oratorical style in support of
the treaty, and when he had
finished many of his colleagues
stood and applauded.
Senator Donnell. Republican, of
> Missouri, also may speak today.
He has asked many critical ques-
tions, but has kept the Senate
guessing for weeks as to how he
will vote.
Senators LANCER, Republican, OF
North Dakota, and Malone, Repub-
= lcan, of Nevada, have indicated
they will oppose the treaty, but
neither plans to make a long
speech.
Lucas to Ask Roll Call.
Senator Thomas, Democrat. OF
Utah, who also spoke for the treaty
yesterday, later suggested the Sen
ate may adopt it without the
formality of a record vote. Sena-
tor Lucas of Illinois, Democratic
floor leader, said he would insist
on a roll call, however. to make
clear to the world the overWhelm-