Evening star., 1951-04-03
The Political Mill
Sense of the Senate
Seems Without Sense
Declaration on Troop Use
Has No Force of Low
By Gould Lincoln

ss0S NV OtSC W Inv
By Gould Lincoln
The Senate has gone on record as
declaring that the President should OBJ
tain congressional approval for send
ing ground troops-in excess of four
divisions-to be integrated in the Eisen-
hover NATO army in Europe. The
declaration has no force of law, but
merely expresses the sense of the
Senate"-which in this case seems with
out sense.
The decision of the Senate on this
matter was touch and 60. An amend
ment offered by Senator Mcclellan,
Democrat, of Arkansas on the troops
or-Europe resolution, providing that it
was the sense of the Senate that no
further ground troops should be
ordered to Europe for the purpose of
building up the Eisenhower army, with
out congressional approval, was first
defeated 46 to A. But on a motion to
reconsider that vote, the amendment
carried 40 to 43.
Taft-Wherry Victory.
The adoption of the amendment was
victory for the Taft -Wherry Republi-
can leadership in the Senate, aided and
abetted by number of strongly anti
administration Democrats. At bottom,
the decision of the Senate was vote Of
mo confidence" in President Truman.
In addition. many of the Senators were
impressed by the argument that Con-
gress, and not the President, should pass
on policy which commits American
armed forces to an international army in
Europe-in time of peace.
The hopeful thing about the Senate
action is that the body went on record
as approving the sending of the four
divisions to Europe. recommended BY
Secretary of National Defense Marshall,
1t may well be that similar approval
may be obtained whenever the Presi-
dent and his military advisers propose
to send further ground troops to serve
in the Eisenhower army. What sticks
in the craw, however, Is that the defeat
of the administration forces was en-
gineered largely by Republicans who
have been tarred with the isolationist
brush, some Of whom have argued
against sending any further troops to
the European area whatever. on the
theory that Western Europe should de-
fend itself against the Red army Of
Russia in the event Of an attack-with
possible air and naval aid from the
United States.
Too many Republicans who are de-
cidedly not isolationist at heart and
who believe in strong national defense
Joined with the Taft-Wherry group.
Perhaps they could not resist taking
a crack at Mr.. Truman, and perhaps
some of them were firmly convinced
that the decision on sending American
troops to serve in an international army,
during peace" really should be made
by Congress. If they were actuated by
the political motive. they may find
they have, cut off their nose to spite
their face. For the decision is calculated
to lessen. not increase, our national
defense. The Republican Party, in Con-
gress, ever since 1921, has had bad
record on national defense, take it by
and large, in the intervals of peace.
May Be Ignored.
There Is nothing in the Senate reso-
s. luton which compelS the President to
obtain congressional approval before
sending more troops to Europe. It has
no force Of law and may be ignored
by the President. It may well be dis
heartening, however. and certainly puz-
Zling, to those both in the United States
and in the other North Atlantic nations
who believe that the best defense against
Russian aggression lies in q strong
NATO army-indeed. that If a strong
NATO army is built, there will be no
Russian aggression. The Senate action
doubtless will give the Kremlin pleas
ant feeling and good chuckle. And
it may discourage our friends and allies
in Western Europe and lead them to
doubt that we will go through to the
end. in the defense of the other free
nations, in the event Of war.
There is no slightest doubt that, for
national unity, the President should
consult Congress regarding a policy so
important as sending American troops
to serve in an international army over
seas, in time of peace. Senator Taft last
year insisted that President Truman did
not have the authority to take such
action. MIR. Truman, truculently and
with a chip on his shoulder, replied
that he did have the power and that he
would use it if he saw fit. This was
the genesis of the so-called great
debate" which might easily have been
avoided had the President taken the
congressional leaders-Republican and
mocratic-into his confidence.
When it comes, however, to the de-
ployment OF American troops, that is q
matter which the President, as COM
mander in chief, controls, and should
control. To put the control of troops, to
say whether there should be four diyi-
slons or six, or two or three, in the
Eisenhower army. in the hands of 531
members OF Congress has no relation to
wisdom. It could cause grave mistakes
and costly delays.