Evening star., 1951-03-20
Red Revolt Possible,
Robertson Declares
In Debate on Troops
By J. A. OLeory

Senator Robertson, Democrat
of Virginia, supporting troops TO
Western Europe tolG the Senat,
today there is reason to hope th'
Russian people will revolt agains
communism as they did agains
the Cars.
The debate was resumed annie
indications administration leader!
will try to pass without any
changes the resolution indorsine
the general policy of defending
Western Europe and approving
specifically four American divi.
sions for Gen. Eisenhower com.
mand at this time.
Although the Presidents sup
porterS would like to see a clearer
provision that would enable Mr.
Truman to send more troops later
If necessary, without waiting for
another congressional debate, they
recognized that opening the door
to amendments might reduce the
final majority for the resolution.
Evidence of Discomfort.
Senator Robertson said there is
abundant evidence" both in cur
rent incidents and in the back
ground of the Russian people that
the Kremlin is undermined by dis
content and that the same ele-
ments in the population which
vainly sought personal liberty by
revolt against the Cars may back
q new attempt to free themselves
of the Communist fetters."
IF We did not believe in the
possibility of a new Russian revo-
luton and knew we must always
deal with the Soviet state as it
exists today" Senator Robertson
continued, "our choice would be to
meet it's challenge of world domi-
nation headon, which would mean
war, or to withdraw into a defen-
sive position from which we even
tually would have to fight for ex-
iStence when the onruShing wave
Of communism reached US.
Senator Robertson favored con-
tinued emphasis on air and sea
power, but with a reasonable de-
fense or the ground in Western
Europe.
Although a final vote before
Easter seemed unlikely today,
leaders may try to get an agree
ment fixing a time for vote next
week or 10 days from now.
Clarification Moves Started.
Since the debate started last
week most of the controversy has
centered around congressional
approval" of future commitments.
Senators Mcmahon, Democrat.
of Connecticut. and Ives. Repub-
lican. of New York, launched sep
arate moves late yesterday to-
clarity that clause. Both are sup
porters of defending Western
Europe with ground forces. Sena-
tor Mcmahon proposed that col
laboration" between the President
and Congress be substituted for
congressional approval" Sena-
tor Ives suggested that the Presi-
dent keep congressional commit
tees advised of his plans. If they
agreed with him, no formal action
by the House and Senate would
be necessary. If they disagreed,
the committees would recommend
action TO the House and Senate
to resolve the disagreement.
Senator Connally is sympa-
thetic to the Mcmahon proposal,
and there are other administra-
ton supporters who would like to
see the section clarified. On the
other hand, there are some Sena-
tors who want Congress to have
more positive voice. and efforts to
change the resolution in any way
probably would reduce the mar
gin for it on final passage.
Mere Expression of Sentiment.
One reason administration floor
managers are inclined to leave
the resolution unchanged is the
fact that it is merely an express
sion of Senate sentiment and will
not be legally binding on the
President.
AS soon as the pending Senate
measure passes. leaders have
agreed to call up second, almost
identical resolution, seeking to put
both houses on record. The sec
ond resolution also would not be
q law.