Evening star., 1951-02-20
ConnalIy's Proposal
On Troops for Europe
Rejected by Taft
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
A proposal by Senator Connally
that the President notify Congress
of any CT transfers to Europe
failed today to satisfy Senator
Taft's demands for a troop ceiling.
Senator Taft. the Ohioan who
heads the Senate Republican
Policy Committee, told a reporter
he thinks Senator Connally's pro-
3ected resolution ignores the
power of Congress to pass on the
issue Of sending additional troops
to Europe"
President Truman contends he
has sole authority to commit
United States troops to the pro-
posed Western defense force in
Europe. Senator Taft, who says
Congress should pass on the issue,
added of the Connally resolution:
"It certainly isn't satisfactory to
me and I intend to press for some
kind of limitation"
Senator Connally, who is chair
man of the combined Foreign Re-
lations and Armed Services Com
mittees, outlined his proposed res
olution to newsrnen after the
chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air
Force all testified yesterday that
any ground force ceiling would
hamper their operations and tip
off the Communists.
De Seversky to Testify.
Representatives of several or
ganizations were scheduled for
testimony today and Senator
Wherry, Republican, of Nebraska,
called Maj. Alexander de Seversky,
air power advocate, to testify with
several others at an afternoon
meeting.
In the house, meanwhile, Rep
resentative Smith, Republican, of
Wisconsin said he and about 100
Republican members who agree
with him on a need for "a re-
examination and revision" of for
eign policies will try to achieve
their aims through changes in
foreign and military money bills
and the draft law
The group last week issued a
declaration of policy calling for
a strong defense system in this
hemisphere and opposing, further
aid to Western Europe until con-
vinced Western Europe lis carry
ing its full share of the burden" 4"
1--WE are going to examine
closely every appropriation bill
that provides funds for foreign
aid. both military and economic,
and for military purposes" Mr..
Smith told a reporter.
Would Urge Consultations.
AS Senator Connally outlined
his troops resolution. it would put
the Senate on record as favoring
the assignment of additional
forces" by the United States to the
North Atlantic defense force being
formed under Gen. Eisenhower.
The President would be urged
but not directed-to consult with
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Sec
retary of Defense. the Armed
Services and Foreign Relations
Committees of both Houses and
with Gen. Eisenhower before de-
Gliding to send more troops to
Europe.
Senator Connally said he would
offer his proposal as substitute
for that of Senator Wherry, which
would prohibit the President from
assigning additional ground forces
to the North Atlantic forces until
Congress passes on the issue. Sen
ator Wherry's proposal is the sub
ject of the current hearings.
While the general terms of Sen
ator Connally's resolution failed
to please Senator Taft, Senator
Knowland, Republican. of Cali
fornia indicated he might go along
If he can get some further assur-
ances next week.
Senator Lodge. Republican, of
Massachusetts, beat Senator Con-
nally to the draw with resolution
of his own. Except for trading
purposes, however, Senator Lodges
resolution seemed likely to be
ignored generally by the two.
committees in drafting a final
measure.
Eisenhower Language Used.
Senator Lodge proposed that "a
limited number" of American
troops be sent to Europe to serve
as "a minor fraction of the total
armed forces created under the
terms of the North Atlantic
treaty" In this, the Massachu-
sets Senator was adopting Ian
guage used by Gen. Eisenhower
in describing the proposed Amer
lean contribution.
The resolution would require
certification by the chiefs of staff
I'd that such an assignment of
ground forces is essential to the
security of the United States and
ca that Atlantic pact partners
have made a definite and de-
pendable commitment" to develop
their own defenses.
It proposed that an 18-member
Senate House committee be set
up to receive the certif1cations and
keep an eye on United States
commitments.
Senator Connally dismissed the
Lodge resolution with the obser-
vation that it would greatly
delay" aid to Europe and would
further discourage our Allies and
friends"