Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-26
Compromise Efforts
On Bricker Plan Vain;
Floor Fight Imminent

stitutional amendment to curb
the treaty-making power.
Although further conferences
may be held this afternoon, there
was little hope for agreement
and present indications are the
floor fight will begin in the Sen
ate tomorrow.
The Senate Republican Policy
Committee was meeting this
afternoon, but Senator Know
land said he expected no devel-
opments there in connection with
the Bricker fight.
AS today's session got under
way. Senator Bricker presented
petitions in support of his plan.
He said they came from 500. 1000
citizens.
Letter B0lSters Opponents.
Administration forces, while
still anxious to avert party
splitting floor fight, were boil
stored in their opposition to
the Bricker plan by President
EiSenhower's strong letter to
Senator Knowland late yester-
day.
The President said the Bricker
amendment as it stands would
be notice to friends and enc
mics alike that the United
States intends to withdraw
from its leadership in world
affairs" He said it's adoption
would impair hopes and plans
for peace.
Gen. Eisenhower again made
1t clear. however, that he agrees
no treaty or international agree
ment can contravene the Con-
stitution. and is willing to sup
port an appropriate amendment
to make this clear.
Developments Elsewhere.
Other developments were:
!. Senator George. of Georgia,
an influential figure on the
Democratic side. conferred with
the President for an hour yes
terday. and is known to be
cooperating with Republican
leaders in their search for a
substitute both sides might
accept
2. Senator Knowland said he
will resist any move to side
track the Bricker amendment
by sending it back to the Judi
ciary Committee because he
wants the issue settled on the
floor.
3. Senator Bricker denied the
Presidents claim that the
Bricker proposal would interfere
with his conduct of foreign af-
fairs. He said he is merely try
ing to prevent the President or
two-thirds of the Senate from
making laws for the States in
treaties. The Ohio Senator said
he would accept any reasonable
compromise to prevent the Re-
publican Party from being split,
but that no such compromise has
been offered.
{. Gov. Theodore McKeldin of
Maryland, Republican, wired
the Al other Governors, asking
them to support the President.
5. Women from as far as Cali
fornia arrived in Washington UNI
der auspices of Vigilant Women
for the Bricker Amendment,
bringing petitions in favor of the
amendments.
Holds New Substitute.
Senator Knowland is known
to have before him a new sub
stitute which the administra-
ton would accept, but appar-
emily the Bricker forces have
thus far turned down.
Senators Knowland and Bricker
were in agreement on one minor
question of procedure. namely
that the first step the Senate
should take is to reconsider the
vote of last June Is by which
committee amendments to the
Bricker plan were adopted.
Senator Knowland explained
that this will pave the way for
the Senate to consider changes
in any part of the resolution,
including the much discuSsed
(which clause"
This clause is the heart of the
administrations opposition to
the Bricker plan. 1t states that
a treaty shall become effective
as internal law in the United
States only through legislation
which would be valid in the
absence of treaty"
The Presidents letter to Sena-
tor Knowland yesterday after
noon reads in part as follows:
Il am unalterably opposed to
the Bricker amendment as re-
ported by the Senate Judiciary
Committee. It would so restrict
the conduct of foreign affairs
that our country could not nego-
t1ate the agreements necessary
for the handling of our business
with the rest of the world. Such
an amendment would make it
impossible for us to deal effec-
lively with friendly nations for
our mutual defense and common
interests.
These matters are funda-
mental. We cannot hope to
achleve and maintain peace if we
shackle the Federal Government
so that it is no longer sovereign
In foreign affairs. The President
must not be deprived of his
historic position as the spokes-
man for the Nation in its rela-
: tons with other countries.
Adoption of the Bricker
amendment in it's present form
by the Senate would be notice
to our friends as well as our
enemies abroad hat our country
intends to withdraw from it's
leadership in world affairs. The
inevitable reaction would be of
major proportions. 1t would i'm
pair our hopes and plans for
peace and for the successful
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