Evening star., 1950-10-09
American Use Of Veto
Iokeep Red China 0ul
OF u. n. Is Uncertain
Decision Is Expected
To Be Deferred Until
Congressional Election
By David Laurence

DJ DoSsA 1<H1t GUCG
just where does the State De-
partment stand today with re-
spect to the all-important use of
the veto power in the United
Nations?
No instructions, It was learned
authoritatively today. have been
issued to date as to whether or
not, II the issue Of admitting
Communist China to a seat in
the Security Council arises. the
veto power Of the United States
shall be applied against such ad-
mission.
Before the Korean war broke
out, the State Department had
declared that while it would op-
pose the admission of Communist
China to a seat in the council
1t would not use the veto. Since
then. especially because the North
Koreans got military aid from
both Russia and Communist
China in the invasion of a men,
ber state in the United Nations,
the State Department has re-
versed it's position to the extent
of withholding a decision one way
or the other on the use of the
veto.
Raises Important Question.
This raises an issue of tran
scendent Importance to the Amer
ican people and particularly to
the members of the Senate. For
when the treaty containing the
present charter of the U.N. was
ratified almost unanimously by
the Senate in 1s45, the under
standing was that America was
not yielding any sovereign rights
and that she retained the right
to use her security council veto.
AS the Soviet government abused
the veto power, the impression
has been cultivated in this coun-
try that the United States would
not use its own veto. Assuming
that a good case can be made
for the abandonment Of the veto
the question arises whether the
United States should surrender
that important right without ex-
acting from Soviet Russia or the
other nations a commitment to
do the same thing. Otherwise
the American gesture would be
meaningless and members of the
Senate might feel that the treaty
which ratified the charter was
being nullified without a justifi-
able reason.
Strictly speaking, non-use Of the
veto is hardly a violation of the
letter Of the treaty but from some
viewpoints it would be regarded
as a violation of the spirit of the
ratification act. Congress might
see fit to adopt a resolution ex-
pressing its disapproval. 1t might
conceivably lead to a bitter con-
troversy in which reservations or
limitations would be attached to
any legislation involving further
participation in the q. N.
Acheson to Consult Congress.
Secretary Acheson has prom
ised to consult Congress before
any steps leading to recognition Of
the Communistic government in
China are ever taken by this
country and it is presumed that
this would also cover any action
involving the use or non-use of
the veto.
Theoretically the case for dip
lomatic recognition of Communist
China has been based on the ar
gument that the Communists have
control over virtually all of Chi
nese territory. This is no longer
the basic question. What is at is
sue is the question of fulf1llment
of international obligations. 1t in
wolves the same set of problems
that caused the United States to
hesitate for Is years to recognize
the Soviet regime even though the
latter had undisputed control OF
all Russian territory and no other
faction offered a challenge.
The impression prevails here
that the decision whether or not
to use the veto to exclude Com
munist China from the Security
Council will be deferred until after
the congressional election. If the
Democrats win, the Administra-
ton probably will be emboldeneo
to take a passive attitude toward
the admission of Communist
China. Opposition would be per-
functory for the record and if il
becomes known generally that the
veto isn't going to be used by the
United States, this will be the
same as winking to the other ma
tions that they might as we'll &C
ahead and vote Red China in.
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