Evening star., 1949-03-20
Vondenberg Indorses
Alliance as Strong
Anti-Wur Insurance
RUSSIAN CHARGES U. S., British
use pact to get bases. Page AS
By J. A. O'Leory

Senator Vandenberg, Repub-
lican. of Michigan, indorsed the
North Atlantic treaty last night
as a powerful insurance policy
against World War III" He is
former chairman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee and
Republican leader on foreign af-
fairs.
The comments of several other
Senators, however. indicated that
many questions will be asked be-
fore they vote for it. Most Of
these questions appear to relate to
the subsequent arming of West
ern Europe rather than to the
principle of mutual defense en-
bodied in the treaty itself.
President Truman said on his
return from Florida yesterday
that he will submit the pact to
the Senate for ratification as soon
as it has been signed. The sign
ing Is expected to take place April
4.
May Reach Floor in May.
Allowing time for hearings. 1t
probably will be May before the
treaty is ready to go to the floor.
At that point. leaders will have
to survey the status of other leg
islation, including appropriation
bills which should pass by June
30. before fixing a time for TAX
ing up the treaty.
A two-thirds vote of the Senate
Is required to ratify a treaty, and
some of those who favor the doc
ument expect a fairly long and
history-making debate, even if no
substantial opposition develops.
Senator George of Georgia, q
veteran Democrat on the Foreign
Relations Committee, told report
ers yesterday the document will
have his support as "a step for
ward" But he said he is "reserv-
ing Judgment on related matters
that will follow" such as arms for
other signatories.
Senator Wherry of Nebraska,
Republican floor leader, said that
before the treaty is voted on. he
wants the State Department to
"lay down for inspection any sep
arate legislation that goes along
with it."
Automatic War Feared.
Another Republican, Senator
Bridges of New Hampshire, con-
sttued the pact as meaning "auto-
matte war for the United States
if signatory power is attacked"
and urged that the people be told
to study the issue realistically.
Senator Taft of Ohio. chairman
of the Republican Policy Cem-
mittee. withheld comment on the
final draft of the treaty as made
public Friday. Three weeks ago,
while the document was in the
drafting stage. he said he sup
ports a North Atlantic security
pact. along the lines of the Inter
American agreement drawn up at
Rio de Janeiro. because he be-
lieved it would prevent war. At
the same time, however. Senator
Taft came out against arming
Western Europe as a step that
might provoke aggression. He
thought it would be safer to keep
American arms at home for use
If the need ever arose.
The Ohioan indicated yesterday
he wants time to study the treaty
in its final form to determine
whether, as drawn. it is insep-
arabic from the issue of supplying
arms to Europe.
Warning to Aggressor Seen.
Senator Vandenberg, however,
minced no words in his indorse-
ment of tha pact. A leading archi-
tect of the bipartisan foreign
policy developed since the close of
the war. the Michigan Republican
said the treaty warns ANY aggres-
sor that he cannot divide and
conquer"
The text of Senator Vanden-
berg's statement follows:
Il believe in the North Atlantic
Peace Pact as a major link in
See ATLANTIC PACT, Page A-6.
- >s Al