Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-18
Leaders Act 10 Avoid
Special Session On
German Sovereignty
By J. A. o'Leory,

Congressional leaders are con-
sidering possible action before
adjournment to empower Pres
ident Eisenhower to deal with
the question of German SOW
ereignty, and thereby avoid
special session either of the Sem
ate or both houses in the midst
of the fall political campaign.
The whole problem is being
surveyed over the week end, and
may be settled at another con-
ference in a few days between
Secretary of State Dulles and
House and Senate leaders.
The allied peace contract for
the restoration of sovereignty
to the German Republic was
worded to take effect along with
the European Defense Com
munity treaty. But Mr.. Dulles
has warned Congress that If EDO
is not ratified before the French
Assembly recesses August is,
continued denial of sovereignty
to the German Republic would
bring a risk of serious political
consequences in that country.
Hopes to Go Home by Mid-Aug.
Speculation over possible
special session of the Senate or
of both houses grows out of the
fact that Congress hopes to go
home before August Is.
One solution being looked into
is to have both houses pass an
advance resolution, authorizing
the President to take certain
steps to recognize political and
economic sovereignty in Western
Germany if France and Italy
have not completed ratification
of EDO by August Is. Some
members of Congress think the
President has ample power to
deal with the problem without
any action by Congress.
Foreign policy experts also
were undecided Yesterday
whether, if some action is neces-
sary, it should be by treaty
amendment in the Senate alone,
or by a law passed in both
houses.
Entire House Up for Election.
A special session of the Senate
alone could be called this fall
without seriously interfering
with the election campaign. or
without giving either party a
political advantage. in the opin-
Ion of old-timers at the Capitol.
But calling the House back
could have a greater effect on the
campaign because all 435 men,
bers of that branch are up for
election.
In the Senate only,37 of the
96 seats are at stake this year.
Many of the 81 are in areas that
may be marked safely Democra-
tic or safely Republican.
Of the 81 Senate contests, %
are for seats now held by Demo- 4
Gratis and only Is by Republicans. ]
But half of the % are in the
South, where the only contests
are between Democrats in the
primaries. BY the time Congress
adjourns nearly all of these
Southern primaries will be over.
Few Tight Senate Races.
One Democrat. Senator john
son of Colorado. is a candidate
for Governor of his State. This
leaves only 10 Democrats who
would have to campaign until
November. Several of these are
in the border States where Re-
puhlicans seldom win in a nom
presidential year
Similarly, on the Republican
side, close to half of the Is seats
are in safe Republican territory
like Kansas. Maine, Nebraska
and North Dakota.
This means that in each party
there are not more than half a
dozen senators involved in tight
races who might be handicapped
by a special session. These SEN
ators could return to Washing
ton in time to vote on the Ger
man issue without being here
for all of the debate.