Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-13
DemocratsFaiI
ToWater Down
Midedst Plan
Senators Reject
Curbs on Presidents
Troop Authority
BY J. A. OLEARY

BY J. A. OLEARY
Senate Democrats failed today
in further efforts to water down
the Eisenhower Middle East res
olution.
The two main attempts this
morning were intended to avoid
having Congress authorize" the
President to use the armed
forces If necessary in the Middle
East.
BY vote of II to IL, the two
committees handling the subject
rejected a move by Democratic
Senators Green and Stennis OF
Mississippi, which would have
put Congress in the position OF
merely approving the exercise by
the President of whatever au-
thority he already has under the
Constitution to employ the armed
forces.
BY vote of 16 TO II. the COM
mittees also turned down an
even weaker substitute by Sena-
tor Morse, Democrat of Oregon,
which merely had Congress ex-
pressing its opinion that the
President should reaffirm this
country's determination to use
its armed forces to stop agrees
sion in accordance with the
United Nations charter.
Minor Change Approved
The committees adopted with
out a roll call two minor changes
In wording.
One by Republican Senator
Case of South Dakota would re-
quire the President to deter
mine that use of the armed
forces in the Middle East was
important to the security of
the United States" as well as 10
the security of that area.
The other, by Senator Long.
Democrat of Louisiana, made no
material change in meaning.
The Democrats might have sue
ceeded in altering the "authorl-
cation" to use the armed forces
If all of the Senators who wanted
some change could have agreed
on one amendment. But they
were divided in their support of
the two substitutes offered today.
Further Sessions Set
The committees were to try to
complete action on the resolution
at an afternoon session.
With the aid of several
Democratic votes. the admins
tration was successful yester-
day in:
/. Defeating, II to IL, a move
by Senator Byrd, Democrat of
Virginia, to strike out all refer
ence to economic and military
assistance to the Middle East.
ana conflne the resolution to an
authorization to use the armed
forces in defense of any Mid
die East country asking such
help against a Communist ag-
gressor.
2. Rejecting, II to 9. an effort
by Senator Fulbright. Democrat
of Arkansas. to make the resolu-
ton mere expression of con-
gressional sentiment instead of
a law.
There may be another amend
ment offered tomorrow to make
it clear that if American troops
are used. it will be to protect
the interests of the United
States and not merely countries
Of the Middle East.
Fund Report Sought
The committees are expected
to adopt an amendment by Sem
ate Democratic Leader johnson
OF Texas, under which the $500
million to be spent for military
and economic aid between now
and June 80 could not be paid
out until a report has been filed
with Congress setting forth
where and how the money is to
be used.
Senator Bridges, Republican
of New Hampshire, has a fun
ther amendment requiring this
report to show If any of the $500
million is taken from foreign aid
program in other parts of the
world.
II the committee completes ac-
ton on the resolution today, it
will take several more days to
prepare a written report. Indi-
cations are floor debate in the
Senate will not start before to-
morrow.