Evening star., 1949-07-10
Arms Aid Opposition
Grows but Senators
See Pact OK. Sure
By J. A. OIeory

By }. A. OIeory
Senate leaders were confident
last night of ratifying the North
Atlantic defense pact this week
by a substantial margin over the
required two-thirds.
At the same time. opposition
appeared to be growing to the
81, l,130,000,000 arms budget fol
Western Europe which is to be
taken up as a separate PROPOSE
ton after the treaty is ratified
While the Senate took its Gus
tomary Saturday recess, there
were these Developments off the
floor:
/. Senator Russell, Democrat OF
Georgia, announced he will sup
port the treaty, but oppose the
arms program. -
2. Chairman Connally of the
Foreign Relations Committee once
again assured his colleagues that
lit Is clear beyond question that
a vote for the treaty does not
carry any obligation to vote fol
the arms program.
3. Majority Leader Lucas o.
Illinois deplored the tendency IL
some quarters to economic or
programs which offer a chance
for peace when they are but Is
small fraction of what was spen
to win the war.
Opposition Gains Recruits.
Friends of the pact conceded
yesterday the opposition ha'
gained some recruits since de-
bate started last Tuesday. Ther
they estimated fewer than II
votes against. Yesterday they
figured there may be II to /:
against, but that would still leave
wide margin of victory. If thu
entire membership is accounted
for on the roll call, it would takt
33 votes to defeat the treaty.
Among those who are opposing
the pact is Senator KEN, Repub'
lican, of Missouri, who announced
that latter most serious consid.
Grafton, I feel that cannot, II
good conscience. do otherwise
than oppose the North Atlantic
Pact"
He said the pact involves a COM
mitment, beyond the present gen.
Grafton, for Americans Ito fight
to maintain the boundaries Of ma
tions the peoples Of which may
not be willing to defend them
selves
He added that the arms pro-
gram, which he said goes with
the treaty. will prove a sinkhole
for untold billions OF military
equipment"
Taft May Oppose Pact.
Senator Connally's statement
that a vote for the treaty does
not obligate a member to sup.
port the arms program was vieWee
IN some quarters as an effort tt
reassure Senators like Taft. Re.
publican, of Ohio. who said Fri
day he may vote against the pac'
because he has begun to doubt
that the two propositions can be
separated.
Senator Taft did not put him
self flatly on the opposition side
however, and he may reveal his
final decision in a Senate speech
tomorrow.
Senator Russell Represents a
different school of thought. COM
posed of Senators who are ready
to vote for the treaty. but have
already made up their minds tt
oppose the shipment Of military
equipment to the other IL nations
in the pact.
Senator Russell told reporter!
he believes the United State!
would 60 to the defense of West.
ern Europe, with or without the
North Atlantic pact, in the even
it is attacked. He said he ha!
reached the conclusion that it /:
wiser to keep Americas defensive
strength at home in the meantime
Huge Outlay Anticipated.
The Georgia Senator said thu
81 100, ,000, 900 figure proposed fol
the next fiscal year would not Civ.
him much concern If that repre-
sented the entire program, but h,
predicted that amount would b,
only the beginning of a II to q
billion dollar outlay.
There was some speculation yes.
terday as to whether the admin.
istration would consider sealing
down the arms budget in order tx
win a more impressive majority
for the treaty, but no immediat.
developments in that direction
came to light.
Newly appointed Senator Dulles
Republican Of New York, for ex.
ample, has said he will support tn.
treaty and an arms program, but
thinks the $1,13O,OO0,O0 figure /.
too high.
Senator Connally said yester.
day that. while each Senator i.
free to vote his convictions or
each as it comes along" he be-