Evening star., 1949-03-26
Atlantic Pact Opposition
Is DEVELOPING in Senate
The Political Mill

Is Developing in Senate
Some Republicans Show Reluctance
To Approve Present Treaty
By Gould Lincoln
The North Atlantic Security Treaty. de-
signed to meet Communist RuSsia's threat
of expansion and at the same time foster
the cause of peace. is to be signed in WASH
ington within a few days and will immedi-
ately thereafter be transmitted to the Senate
by the President for ratification. The treaty
has been praised in many quarters and by
many Senators-and very properly so.
Nevertheless, already signs of cloud Of
opposition are blowing up-a very small
cloud, fortunately, so far. But it is in the
making. The old opposition to having the
United States enter into an alliance which
may draw this country into war Is at the
bottom of 1t all, up to date, though other
reasons may be advanced later. It is all
reminiscent of the situation when the late
President Woodrow Wilson, at the close Of
Word War I, presented the Versailles
Treaty and the League of Nations Covenant
to the Senate. At that time it appeared that
adherence to the League of Nations was a
foregone conclusion-that the Senate would
ratify by more than two-thirds vote. In
lost.
Familiar Line of Attack.
They were lost largely because of a skill
full use of proposed reservations
which the United States would enter into
the covenant but reserve the right to decide
at some future date that it would not live
up to the commitments contained in the
pact. This is the same line of attack which
may be made when the North Atlantic Sc.
curity Treaty is actually before the Senate.
IT so, the reservations may readily take the
form of no obligation to the use of American
arms, unless the Congress first agrees to q
declaration of war; and Of opposition to the
use of American arms and American money
to help build up the Western European ma
tions militarily.
An opening gun in the offensive against
the treaty was fired in the Senate by Senator
Donnell Republican. of Missouri. Mr.. Dom
nell began by saying that he wanted the
Senate and the country to have the fullest
possible information regarding the treaty.
He added that without further information
he would be compelled to vote against the
security pact. He made demand that. when
the treaty comes before the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, every Senatorial SO
of them, including the members of the COM
mittee itself-be permitted to question all
witnesses VINO appear at Cllc prospective
hearings on the treaty.
This ia itself might delay the considera-
ton of the treaty in the Senate for weeks.
And for three hours the Missouri Senator
gave reasons why he believed the treaty
might be far more of a detriment to the
United States than source of strength. He
had his Missouri counterpart in the old
League of Nations fight in the late Senator
Jim Reed, Democrat, who was one OF
the Leagues most ardent foes in the Senate
Of those days.
Other Opponents.
Senator Donnells is not, however, lone
voice raised in opposition to quick adherence
to the new treaty. Indiana's Senators, Jen-
ner and Capehart, apparently see eye-to-eye
with him. And Senator Watkins Of Utah
is another strong potential opponent OF the
pact, certainly as it stands Senator Malone
Of Nevada has announced himself against the
treaty. These are all Republicans Demo-
cratic opposition has still to manifest itself.
Despite it's Wendell Willkie and his "One-
World" idea, Indiana has long been hotbed
of isolationism. It Is not surprising, there.
fore, to find its two Senators lining up for
delay or even opposition to the North Atlantic
Security Treaty.
The Republican Party in recent years,
largely under the leadership Of Senator VAN
denberg of Michigan in Congress and Gov.
Thomas E. Dewey Of New York on the out
side, has abandoned its former isolationist
stand. The Republicans in Congress have
gone along. for the most part, with the BIZ
partisan foreign policy for which the Mich
igan Senator has been largely responsible.
They agreed to the participation of this
country in the United Nations, and they
have supported, again for the most part, the
European Recovery Program and the billions
of appropriations to carry it out.
Senator Taft of Ohio, great Republican
figure in Congress. is known to be studying
the new treaty and all its implications care
fully. He has not committed himself. 1t has
been his hope that he might support the
pact Should he determine otherwise, how
ever, and either oppose it or support strong
reservations, it would be severe blow.