Evening star., 1951-01-18
Truman
Continued From First Page

leIeIlCe REMARKS q lew weeks as(
about the consideration being
given to the use of the atomic
bomb in Korea had been garbled
1t was pointed out to Mr.. Tru.
man that he had said that HI
would consult with the Senate ane
House Foreign and Armed Serv.
ices Committees before dispatch.
ing troops, but that he insisted
he had the constitutional right
bolstered by long standing deci.
sions. to take action without con.
gressional approval. He com
mented today that he had also
said that he would be glad tx
see any member of Congress a,
any time on these subjects.
He did not go beyond this ex.
PLANTATION.
Magazine Was Right, He says.
When the President. under ques-
tioning at the earlier news confer
ence where the use of the atomic
bomb was discussed, said that
weapon was under consideration
his remarks prompted later
clarifying statement from the
White House explaining that the
use of all weapons was always un-
der consideration in any fighting
A magazine later carried a
story of that incident and criti-
cized the press handling of the
matter.
Mr.. Truman said today that the
magazine was right.
The colloquy last week was
touched off by a news conference
discussion of a speech by Chair
man Connally of the Foreign Re-
lations Committee. who said he
understood that the adminiStra-
ton would consult with Congress
before sending troops abroad.
Omission Brought Complaint.
The President then countered
with a brief memorandum which
said that under the President S
constitutional powers as Com
mander in Chief of the Armed
Forces, he has authority to send
troops anywhere in the world. II
added that that power has been
recognized repeatedly by the Con-
preSS and the courts. -.. ...
A White House statement issued
after today's conference said that
the President was complaining to-
Gay about the omission of the
Connally exchange. 1t cited the
following:
@. Well, Mr.. President, Sena-
tor Connally did not dispute your
right to do so. He defended 1t.
but he said that he understood
you would consult with Congress
before you would do so, and con-
tinuing: 1t is my understanding
that administration leaders plan
to do so.'
The Presidents press conference
comments may never be quoted
directly except by permission. but
his answer by official transcript
given out today was:
1--WE always do that. We never
make any moves in foreign affairs
or on any domestic affairs, or on
any other affairs, that we do very
considerably consult with the COM
mittees that are interested in it.
We have always done that, and
there has been no change in that
policy, and won't be, and any Sen
ator that wants to talk to the
President can always get a date
to do it,
Then came these highlights in
the colloquy: A reporter recalled
that the President said he had
the authority of the courts and
Congress to send troops anywhere
in the world and asked If these
opinions said that you had to
consult Congress-
Truman Interrupted Query.
The President responded no
that they did not and that he did
not have to consult Congress un-
less he wanted to but he added
that of course he is polite and
usually always consults them.
Later, the President was asked
to be more explicit about the
form the consultation would take
Would the whole Congress
|. reporter started to ask.
The President interrupted the
query midway. He said no, ii
would be with the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee and the Sen
ate Armed Services Committee
which are always consulted or
every subject which has to dc
with foreign relations and defense
Another reporter then sought to
have the President agree that he
would just talk to the congress
sional committees as matter o1
courtesy and the President ad.
monished him to remember thai
Congress has to appropriate the
money for Government opera.
tions.
| A reporter, picking up this
question. wanted to know what
would be the effect of an attempt