Evening star., 1951-03-17
Troop Vote in Senate
Before Easter Recess
Now Held Possible
BY J. A. O'Leory

| PROSPECTS DTlgnJeneQ To-Day fO1
a Senate vote before Easter or
two resolutions approving the
policy of sending more American
ground forces to Gen. Eisenhow-
er's Western European defense
command.
Although the chamber is in
recess until Monday, after launch
ing the great debate" yesterday,
Chairman Connally of the For
Ieign Relations Committee said
there is a reasonable chance" of
completing action before the end
Iof next week.
Senator George, Democrat. of
Georgia also told a reporter he
thinks the Senate may vote by
Wednesday or Thursday. If that
Happens administration leaders
will let the Senate in on the To-
day Easter recess planned by the
House.
Authority Crux of Argument.
The first few hours of debate
yesterday made it clear the whole
Iargument in the Senate will be
over how far President Truman
would have to go in seeking CON
Igressional approval" of any future
troop assignments to Gen. Eisen-
hover. There is overwhelming
support in the Senate for sending
the four divisions planned now
and the two resolutions specifically
indorse that number.
Chairman Connally opened the
debate yesterday with a predic-
ton the United States and its
allies could survive an atomic war
with Russia if they pull together
now in building their defenses in
Western Europe while this coun-
try still holds superiority in
atomic weapons.
Senator Wiley, OF Wisconsin,
ranking Republican on foreign re-
lations in the absence of Senator
Vandenberg, appealed to Presi-
dent Truman to announce that,
regardless of his legal powers. he
intends to consult Congress on
any future troop commitments
to Europe. in the interest of unity.
Definition Is Sought.
Senator Ives, Republican of New
York, lost no time in swinging the
debate around to the one big point
of controversy. namely, what is
meant by the phrase Congress
sional approval as applied to flu
ture commitments. He put the
question to Chairman Connally,
who promptly suggested it be an
swered by Republican committee
members who insisted on writing
in the provision.
Senator Smith, Republican of
New Jersey, who took a leading
part in trying to harmonic the
divergent views of Republicans in
drafting the resolutions, said he
would explain what the provision
means Monday.
The debate already has indi-
Gated some Senators think it
means both houses would have to
pass another resolution before
any more than four divisions could
be sent. while others think it
would only require Mr.. Truman to
consult" the IS members who
make up the Committees on For
eign Relations AMI Armed Serv-
ices in the two houses.
Russell Calls for Speed.
Chairman Russell of the Senate
Armed Services Committee told
reporters he thinks it would only
require consultation. Senator
Russell advised against attempts
to amend the resolutions on the
floor, although sCme administra-
ton adherentS would like to strike
out the requirement for congress
sional approval"
The quicker we can pass these
resolutions, with the largest pos
sible vote. the better it will be for
the security of the United States"
said Senator Russell.
The paragraph which has pro-
voked most of the controversy
reads as follows:
1T is the sense of the Senate
that. in the interests of sound
constitutional processes and of
national unity and understand
ing, congressional approval should
be obtained Of any policy requir-
ing the assignment of American
troops abroad when such assign
ment is in implementation of ar
ticle 3 of the North Atlantic
treaty; and the Senate hereby
approves the present plans of the
President and the Joint Chiefs of
ota1I 10 SenQ Tour additional dl-
visions of ground forces to West
ern Europe"
Language Called Ambiguous.
Senator Ives called the language
ambiguous, and said he thinks it
would require the President to
come back to Congress in each
specific instance when men in
uniform are to be sent to Europe.
whether ground troops, Air Forces
or any other branch of the armed
services.
Senator Saltonstall of Massa-
chusetts, another Republican who
worked on the language in COM
mittee, said he did not agree with
the Ives Interpretation and would
explain his view of what it means