Evening star., 1951-01-21
|knowIand Asks
Joint Study on
Use Of Troops
Will Make Request
Before Senate Acts on
Whery Resolution
By J. A. O'Leor

of California. proposed last night
that the Senate Armed Services
Committee be given a voice. along
with the Foreign Relations Com
mittee, in passing on the ques-
ton of sending American troops
to Western Europe.
The Californian said he will
make such a request Tuesday
before the Senate votes on the
Wherry resolution, calling on the
President not to make troop com
mitments to the North Atlantic
defense area until Congress adopts
a policy on the subject. This
could lead to a last-minute de-
bate over jurisdiction.
Chairman Connally of the For
eign Relations Committee will
move to send the Wherry Resolu-
ton to that committee for study.
Most observers believe the ad-
ministration will have the votes
to do that, and thereby prevent
the Senate from taking any hasty
action before the return of Gen.
Eisenhower from his inspection
tour as Supreme Commander Of
the integrated defenses of West
ern Europe.
ConnalIy Cool Toward Plan.
Senator Connally said last night
he is perfectly willing" to have
members of the Armed Services
Committee sit in with his COM
mittee, but indicated he sees no
need for a formal joint reference
of the subject to two commit
tees.
There are 13 Senators on each
committee, and all 26 of them
would vote on what is to be re-
ported back to the Senate if the
resolution should be referred
jointly to both groups.
If the Wherry resolution is sent
to committee the Democrats.
after public hearings, are ex-
pected to bring out an alternative
proposal, which would put the
Senate on record in favor of the
general proposition of sending
armed forces" to Western Eu-
rope.
The voting Tuesday will be only
a preliminary skirmish. with the
main battle due when the COM
mittee reports its findings.
George Backs Taft Proposal.
In this connection, Senator
George of Georgia, a high-rank-
ing Democrat on Foreign Rela-
tions, lined up yesterday with
Senator Taft, Republican of Ohio.
in urging that Congress place
ceiling on the number of troops
to be sent to Europe as long as
the North Atlantic Treaty ma
tions are not under attack. This
put Senator George in disagree
ment with Chairman Connally.
who had said earlier he does not
want to agree to any limitation
that would tie the Presidents
hands. He pointed out an
emergency might arise requiring
quick action.
Since the Foreign Relations
Committee consists of seven DEM
ocrats and six Republicans,
Senator George might hold the
decisive vote if the committee
should be divided on the details
of the resolution.
Senator George agreed that it
Is reasonable to take defense
measures against possible Russian
aggression in Europe, but said the
United States must make certain
that the Europeans are going to
put forth their own best efforts.
Legislation Is Urged.
'I don't want us again to get
in the position in which we have
been put in Korea of bearing 80
per cent of the burden of fight
ing" said Senator George.
He said eve should specify not
only the number of men but when
and the conditions under which
they shall be used"
Senators George and Taft also
(See FOREIGN POLICY, Pg. h-3)