Evening star., 1950-06-01
Acheson Talk Leaves
His Relations With.
Congress Unchanged
By Gornett D. Homer

ASGSAStoAJ VA ASbbkO 11NA1CGO11 .
unusual question-and-answer ses-
sion with Congress appeared to-
day to have left his relations with
Capitol Hill just aboet where
they were. -.se.
Mr.. Acheson engaged in the
quiz program with Senate and
House members for half an hour
yesterday, following an address in
which he emphasized that the
principle of balanced collective
forces" for the United States and
Its North Atlantic treaty allies
must be made to work to match
Russia's growing armed might.
The questions brought little in
FORMATION from the Secretary that
was news. Democrats generally
were pleased by the performance.
Republican comment was cold.
Lucas Sees Friendly Relations.
8 Senate Majority Leader Lucas
told reporters he believes Mr..
Afheson's appearance helped ce-
ment friendly relations between
the State Department and Con-
gress.
Senator Wherry, the Republican
floor leader, said. however, that he
does not think the session
changed anything. one way or
the other"
The real test for Mr.. Acheson
will come tomorrow when he
appears before the Senate Foreign
Relations and Armed Services
Committees to back up requests
for continued foreign arms aid.
Senator Wherry said.
Talk Called Too General.
"Mr. Acheson just used Con-
-sress as window dressing for a
radio speech" the Nebraska Re-
publican complained. "EIis talk
was so general and the questions
:and answers so general that
nobody learned anything new.
He says we are going into full
partnership with the North At
lantic Treaty nations. We1l find
out what we are going to have to
give up and what it will cost us
when he unfolds the foreign arms
program, I suppose"
The Secretary said in his speech
yesterday that this country must
take the lead in making effective
the balanced collective forces"
principle, under which each of the
North Atlantic Treaty nations
would contribute to the common
defense according to its ability,
with none duplicating efforts of
the other allies.
Few Questions Asked.
He spoke to what House Ma
1ority Leader Mccormack called
an informal joint session" Of the
Senate and House in the Library
OF Congress auditorium. The
speech was broadcast nationally.
Then the microphones were cut,
of for the question and answer
period. Mr.. Acheson asked that
his off-the-cuff answers not be
quoted directly.
OF the approximately 300 Sena-
tors and Representatives present,
only three Senators and IS Rep
Tesentatives put questions to Mr..
Acheson. Few of them were per-
tinent to his address, report on
his recent meetings in London with
the French and British foreign
ministers and with the North At
lantic Council.
Senator Mccarthy, Republican,
Of Wisconsin. one of Mr.. Acheson's
chief critics, listened to him silent
ly without asking any question. He
told reporters afterward that "the
Red dean Of Washington is still in
form"
Some of the questioners-like
Representative Judd. Republican,
Of Minnesota; Representative
Rich. Republican. of Pennsylvania
and Representative Rankin u
seemed more interested in voicing
their own ideas than eliciting in
formation from Mr.. Acheson.
The Secretary appeared i'm
patient with the Judd and Rankin
queries.
Mr.. Judd wanted to know why
the State Department does not
use the total diplomacy" Mr..
Acheson has espoused to prevent
Communist China ever getting a
seat in the United Nations.
Mr.. Acheson said YEARLY that
he must have explained his posi-
ton to Mr.. Judd a thousand times,
but would be glad to do so again.
He said he does not regard the
question. of admitting a u. N.
member as one on which the veto
should be used.
MIR. Judd interposed that in this