The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-01-15
TH1 kaY VEST eITI1In Fria.y. ,.as., IS. ~
Senator's May Rally To Aid
Ike Against Bricker Proposal
Kefauver Plan
Would Bypass
Amendment To
The Constitution
~ WARREN ROGERS gR.

WASHINGTON IRA resolution
circulated among most senators
may become the rallying point Of
the Eisenhower administrator
attack on the proposed Bricker
amendment to limit the govern
ment's treaty powers.
The suggested resolution was
sent around to all but about 10
Of the IS senator's last Saturda ~
by Sen. Kefauyer (D-Tenn).
Unlike the proposal By Sen.
Bricker (R-O hiol and an admin
istration.backed substitute by SEN
ate Republican Leader Knowland
of California, the resolution would
not amend the Constitution. II
would simply put the Senate on
record as affirming certain atti-
fudes toward treaties and their
domestic effect It would also re.
quire Z recorded roll call vote
when the Senate ratifies treaties.
Bricker argues that an amend.
ment to the Constitution Is needed
to insure that basic American lib
critics shall not be taken away oy
treaties which, he says, might
supersede domestic law and the
Constitution itself. Lawyers dis
agree as to whether this is a real
danger.
President Eisenhower has said
Bricker's proposal would hamper
his conduct Of foreign affairs,
while agreeing that no treaty
should contravene domestic law.
There has been no public re.
Spouse to Kefauver's resolution
idea from his colleagues. But ad.
ministration forces are watching
carefully for signs that 1t might
break q deadlock on the highly
emotional issue.
Compromise efforts are stiIl 70.
Ing on. Bricker had q date today
with Atty. Gen. Brownell and Sen.
Ferguson (R-Mich), chairman Of
the Senate Republican Policy Com.
mittee, at the Justice Department.
Time Is running out on the com.
promise attempts, going on nov
for about three weeks without sue.
cess. The Bricker proposal i
scheduled as the Senate's next ma
jor business.
Knowland said last night: III Il
the firm judgment Of the entire
Republican leadership Of the Sen.
ate that further efforts should be
made to work out an area oi
agreement"
With the administration backing
Knowland's proposed amendment
and Bricker standing firm on his
language, the impasse has dug
deep into Republican unanimity.
with Democrats generally watch.
Ing In silence.
II Is for these practical and stra.
tegic reasons that the administra.
ton repeatedly looks favorably, II
not too optimistically, on the res
oiution idea. As one administra.
ton aide put it: a'The resolution
may become rallying point. II
Is certainly preferable to the
Bricker amendment and some.
has to be DONE"
The resolution would be. II lie
strongest. q stern message from
the Senate as to how II feels about
treaty making
In brief, it provides that ere.
vered and historic principles are
solemnly affirmed" The stated
principles are that: "a no treaty
can override the Constitution. az
Congress can pass laws 10 alter
the domestic effects Of any treaty..
(O U. S. courts can throw out arly
treaty or law found unconstitu.
tional, % the federal government
must have the right to make treat
les, and (sl the Senate can attach
reservations in ratifying 4 treaty
50 as to make its domestic effects
depend on congressional enact.
ment Of law.
The resolution closely parallels
Knowland's proposal. But ii ap.
peared to take q big step back.
ward from provisions in Bricker,s
measure which would "a REQUIRE
legislation to make a treaty effec.
tive as domestic law and (2) give
Congress regulatory powers over
executive agreements.