The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1950-04-28
u. 5. WORLD POLICIES


has been, by constitutional provision and
hands of the Chief Executive, who is, and
has been, in position to commit the
United States upon grave issues without
consultation with any other elective rep
resentative of the people.
During the stress and strain of the
years Immediately preceding World War
I'll the late President Roosevelt, in an eff
fort to secure bipartisan support of his
policy to aid the nations against Hitler's
aggression, installed in his Cabinet two
prominent members of the Republican
Party Subsequently, the bipartisan APP
proach to International affairs has been
much stressed by the consistent collabora-
ton Of Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg, of
Michigan. His recent illness probably help
ed bring about weakening of this rap
prochement which eliminated in the at
tack of Senator Mccarthy upon the State
Department.
1t has always been recognized that the
United States, as the worlds most pow
erful nation, should develop a consistent
policy in foreign affairs IF the relations
of this country to one nation depended
upon the outcome of the elections, it would
be impossible to formulate anything like
permanent program in connection with in
ternational affairs. M
While Congress has little constitution
al power in regard to diplomatic matters,
even though the Senate has to ratify
Treaties the House holds the purse strings,
In recent years our policy has depended
largely upon the willingness of Congress
to provide the money to implement our
program abroad. This gave to the House
something like a veto power over foreign
affairs and coupled with the Senates rat
ification powers, tended to compel the
Chief Executive to seek the full support of
Congress before launching any positive
foreign program. This condition of affairs
quently, the necessity for closer cooper
alton between the Executive and the Leg
islature is recognized. Members of Con-
gress have repeatedly voiced the objection
that the President keeps them in the dark,
coming to them only to ask ratification
Of what has already been accomplished
or agreed to. ,..s.. $3.50 l.s l4st
Obviously, it would be much better if
the Congress- through proper channels,
is informed of the qualifications and diff
ficulties of our complete foreign policy.
This would enable members to exercise
some voice in the formulation of the pol
icies they will be required to support by
legislative action.
Senator Tom Connally, of Texas, has
suggested the Reorganization of the For
eign Relations Committee of the Senate
through subcommittee that would keep
in touch with the officials of the State
Department in connection with various
areas of foreign policy. This would keep
Congressman of both parties advised as
to what goes on and give them chance
to be heard in connection with the plan
ming and execution Of foreign policy.
The subcommittee would be assign
ed to keep in touch with the policies of
the nation in the various quarters of the
earth. They would thus know what the
Executive Department was attempting to-
accomplish in connection with its diplo-
matte procedure and as members of both
parties would be included on the sub
committees, there would be good chance
of obtaining bipartisan support. In time,
the formulation of an established and &C
cepted policy would enable the Executive
Department to act Immediately when crit
zeal issues arise.