davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06
Step Forward?

The last time anybody tried to
tamper with the Senate's dusty
and sacrosanct rulebook was in
1858 and the move was put down
by vote OF 70 to 81. Then, too,
the target was Rule XXI.
This time the liberals were not
completely disillusioned. They felt
they had gained much ground and
they began patient wait for the
another day" that always comes.
But even had they upset all
predictions. such success would not
by any means have assured them
of their hoped-for civil rights legis-
lation in this Congress. They could
depend upon the House to act af-
firmatively, as it did in the last
session of the Gath Congress. But
the chances would have been
against such bill proceeding any
further.
Blocking the doorway to the Sen
ate would have been the ample
figure of cheroot- chewing Senator
James o. Eastland of Mississippi.
Senator Eastland is chairman of
the Judiciary Committee. through
which any civil rights bill must
pass before first even being sub
jected to the filibuster.
A Senate committee chairman
often is the committee when it
comes to clearing legislation for
debate. He can simply refuse to
call meeting OF his committee as
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06
STINGS OR HONEY?
BY SIDNEY WISE

UNITED NATIONS, N. Y.-Presi-
dent Eisenhower's new program for
the Middle East is seen by some
United Nations officials as likely to
result in American acquisition OF a
bees nest that might produce
many stings before it yields honey.
Mixed feelings Of satisfaction and
suspicion over the program are
being expressed here by delegates
to the donation General Assembly,
which reconvened last week after
Christmas recess.
The suspicion is felt by several in
fluential members Of the Asian
African bloc who conjure up fearful
images Of past British imperialism:
by the British and French, who view
with certain resentment the rise
Of American power in an area once
considered their sphere of influence,
and by the Soviet bloc, which is try
ing to consolidate It's foothold in
the Middle East.
The satisfaction is felt by many
members Of the Western camp, in
Guiding Israel and Lebanon, among
others, who regard the present
Middle East situation as a power
vacuum which demands action
along the lines Of President Eisen-
howers program If serious Soviet
penetration is to be halted.
At the moment. President Eisen-
howers Mideast plan is the center
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06
Eisenhower Package

But despite the hopeless outlook,
Mr.. Elsenhower's proposed legis-
lative program which he placed be-
fore his party's congressional lead
ers on Monday included the package
civil rights proposals that were left
standing outside the Senate Judici-
airy Committee last summer.
These proposals. which at the
time failed even to win the unani-
nous support of pro-civil rights
liberals. would:
. Set up bipartisan commission
to investigate the whole field OF
civil rights problems.
. Permit individuals to take COM
plants that their civil rights have
been violated directly into Federal
court.
. Allow the Attorney General to
bring civil suits against anyone who
conspireS to violate someone's civil
rights, and permit the Justice De-
partment to seek an injunction in
behalf of anyone who believes his
civil rights are about to be violated.
. Permit prosecution in Federal
courts of anyone who intimidates
voters in an election for Federal
Office.
There are a number of Senators
who believe that they not only can
get a majority behind these pro-
posals. but that they also can mus
ter the 81 votes required to break
filibuster-if they can ever get
one Of the bills to the floor in
the first place.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06
Disarmament.
No to Russia

After many weeks of delibera-
tons, the White House replied on
wednesday to Soviet Premier Bull
ganln's latest disarmament propo-
sails. transmitted to President Eisen-
hover on November II. The reply,
almost fiat rejection, reflected
the steadily downward plunge of
the Cold War thermometer since
the Suez and Hungarian crises
swept away the last vestiges of the
spirit of Geneva"
The President, brief to the point
Of brusqueness, told the Soviet
Premier that the United States
preferred TO work toward disarm-
ament within the framework Of
the United Nations. In so doing,
Mr.. Eisenhower dismissed the Rus
sian proposal for five-power
summit" conference on dlsarma-
ment to include the United States,
the Soviet Union, Britain, France,
ard India.
Significantly. the Presidents
Continued on Page A-32
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06
Reaction Abroad

Reaction among Americas allies
toward the Eisenhower proposal was,
in general, approving. Both Brit
ish and French official sources de-
scribed the Presidents program as
heartening and encouraging, but
both also complained mildly that
they were not given time to study
the plan in its details before it was
announced.
Running through British and
French comment on the plan was
note of somewhat petulant relief
that the United States at last is
about to assume some responsibility
for events in the Middle East"
Smarting under the lack of Ameri-
can support for the Suez adventure,
London viewed the Eisenhower
program as. in the words of the
influential and Conservative London
Times, ito set the stage for other,
more positive suggestions
Further. The Times published a
dispatch from Washington stating:
What does seem significant is that
Mr.. Dulles. in the acid test of rela-
tons with Russia. is not necessarily
prepared to subordinate his policy
of Craftsmanship" to- decisions Of
the United Nations-that there are
circumstances in which the indie
pendent use of force is not so re-
pugnant to Washington as might be
imagined from its displeasure with
the Anglo-French intervention in
Egypt"
But the Eisenhower adminiStra-
ton. in its careful groundwork on
the introduction of the new Middle
East approach, took especial pains
TO include the u. N. in the over
all concept Of the program.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06
STAVGS OR HONEY?
Mideost Plon Gets Mixed Reception at u. N.

OF more attention than any item on
the Assembly's agenda of world
problems. even though 1t has not
been presented officially to the U. N.
An Ideal Time
With so many explosive, unre-
solved issues of the Middle East
fermenting unrest in that area,
many delegates here are of the
opinion that the idea Of a program
with an overall approach could not
come at a more ideal time. How
ever, they are anxious to learn Just
what scope, conditions and details
such a program would have.
In particular, concern is felt that
the United Nations may be by
passed in some of the contemplated
military aspects Of the projected
new American program.
Under this program. in an emer-
gency situation to deter Communist
aggression in the Middle East, the
United States could use military
force first without waiting for
United Nations approval or action
on the matter.
Article 81 OF the United Nations
Charter covers this form OF action.
1t says:
Nothing in the present Charter sholl
impair the right Of individual or collective
sefdefenSs il on armed ottoek occurs
oeoinst member OF the United Motions,
until the Security Council hos token
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06
Some Questions

Some intriguing questions were
posed in the debate over the con-
tinuing nature of the Senate.
If 1t is not a continuing body,
with continuing rules. then do the
rules die with each Congress. in
Gliding Rule II. comprising the oath
for Senators. without which, pre-
sumably one-third of the Senate
the newly elected Senators-could
not be sworn in?
If the Senate is not a continuing
body, assembling at the start of
each new Congress without any
rules under which to operate, I'M
der what procedure shall it go about
writing its rules? Senator Richard
Russell, Georgia Democrat, believed
that any rules so adopted might be
successfully challenged.
Several Senators from both sides
OF the aisle who wanted to change
the rules argued that there was
substantial evidence in favor of a
noncontinuing Senate. All bills.
motions and nominations die with
the old Senate and must start their
course all over again in the new
Senate. Also committees are
formed again when a new Senate
meets and its officers. who do not
hold continuing tenure, are newly
chosen.
Amid the maze of rules govern
ing the allotting of time for debate.
the yielding of time, parliamentary
inquiries and all the subtle me-
chanicS under which the Senate
operates. it seemed like a childs
game of pretend to hear scholarly
discourseS on whether or not, for
all practical purposes, the very
debate of the moment was real in
legal sense.
BY early afternoon there were
reports that the strength of the
liberals had increased during the
debate to more than 40. (Twenty-
four hours earlier their group was
believed to number not more than
320 The Southerners, though
never for moment relaxing their
almost cocksure compoSure, began
to anger bit. There were yelled
threats that if the Senate started
changing any rule there would also
be a critical examination OF all
40 Of the rules. And that just
might require some weeks Of de-
liberation.
Vice President Nixon strength
ened the hand of the liberals-and
his owr chances for a presidential
nomination in 1960-by agreeing
with them that the Senate might.
if majority wished, change its
rules at the beginning of a new
Congress.
Minority Leader William Know
land. on the other hand supported
the view Of Senator Russell that
the Senate could not operate if
it had to write new rules for each
Congress. While the rules were
being considered, he said, Senate
action would be possible only under
unanimous consent agreements and
this. he added. would be like put
ting your head in guillotine to
cure headache"
When 1t was all over the Senate
for seven hours had wrestled with
l67 years Of tradition. And tradi-
ton had won.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06

long as a measure Objectionable
to him is awaiting entry. Or, even
should he permit his committee to
meet, he may refuse recognition
to any member who evidences any
eagerneSs to bring UP matters to
which the chairman is opposed.
But such bill might not even get
that far, for the chairman may
name to the appropriate subcom-
mittee only those members who
share his views.
Senator Eastland demonstrated
in the 84th Congress that these
were not the only tactics avail
able to him as chairman of the
Judiciary Committee.
Last year he in fact did bring
four civil rights bills out of the
HenningS subcommittee. but at the
same time he announced plans to
hear all the testimony anyone
wanted to give on more than
dozen other civil rights bills--no
hasty procedure. to be sure.
Eager to testify were the attorney
geneSals of all the Southern States.
And whenever there was other com.
mlttee business to attend to, the
chairman obtained from the Senate
unanimous consent for his commit
tee to meet for specific purposes
other than discussing the civil
rights bills-while the Senate was
sitting. This required that the COM
mittee stick to the business for
which it was given permission to
consider. thus preventing any mem
Der from bringing up the matter Of
civil rights.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06
Mixed Reception

Republicans. for the most part.
were full of praise for the Presi-
dents plan. Even the so-called "iso-
lationist' right wing was reluctant
to find fault in this latest interna-
tional obligation urged by the Chief
Executive.
But Democrats. however much
inclined to support the general aims
of the plan, were resentful that
the White House had moved as
tutely to sell the proposal to the
Nation before Congress had even
gathered.
There appears little doubt that
the Eisenhower recommendation
will be reSoundingly approved in
both Senate and House. But If the
private comment Of many law
makers is a reliable indication Of
their true sentiments. at least some
yea" votes will reflect a feeling
that 1t would be unwiSe. now that
the proposal is in public view, to
register opposition that can be
viewed in Moscow and the world
as evidence of American disuniUy
on so vital matter.
But the Democrats do not intend
to accept the program quietly. Adlai
Stevenson, defeated Democratic
candidate for President, observed
Thursday that Mr.. Eisenhower lis
evidently trying frantically to fill
the vacuum that his own policy
helped create before Russia does"
And Senator Mansfield, Montana
Democrat and member of the
Foreign Relations Committee, de-
manded that the President apprise
Congress of the costs and the
dangers" involved in his proposal.
Even before the President spoke
yesterday. there were strong indi-
cations that the Senate would give
the Middle East program a very
thorough examination before APP
proving It. Minority Leader Know
land, aware of the desire of his coll
leagues to explore the proposal with
extra caution. declared the admin
istration had no objection to full
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06

measures Necessary to mointoin internc-
tioncl peoes and security
However, the memory is still fresh
here Of the Anglo-French armed
Intervention in Egypt without
United Nations approval on more
or less the basis of Article 81. That
episode has served to sharpen the
anti-colonial suspicious Of India,
Egypt and other Asian African
members regarding the new Amer
lean plan.
In addition, proponents OF a
strong United Nations feel that any
move to bypass the machinery Of
the world body. no matter how
worthy the objective, is a move to
weaken and undermine the eff
cheney Of the peace organization.
Offsetting these feelings to some
extent is the role played by the
United States in opposing Anglo
French Intervention In Egypt, the
strong support Of the U. N. by Pres
ident Eisenhower and the an
nounced desire to have the new
Mideast program work through the
world organization.
Dulles Reossures
Special note was made by OBJ
servers here Of the assurances given
by Secretary Of State John Foster
Dulles on Monday after his talk
with Secretary General Dag Ham,
marskjold.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06
MonnerIy Bottle

On Friday the Senate staged a
performance that testified to the
skill and efficiency of Majority
Leader johnson. The issue was:
Should the Senate change its rules
so as to make the filibuster more
difficult? This had been widely
billed in advance as the occasion
for one Of those exhausting and
wasteful clashes between the pro-
civil rights Northern liberals and
the Southern conservatives.
But, according to the majority
leaders script, there would be no
free-for- all battle over changing the
rules-and his script was followed.
Senator Johnson conjured up
unanimous consent agreement for
seven hours Of debate on the matter
that had something for everybody:
. For the liberals who sought to
water down Rule XXI which per-
mits the fllibuster. the Johnson plan
guaranteed adequate time to argue
that the Senate is not "contin-
uing" body with continuing rules
which cannot be disturbed.
. For the Southerners who OPP
posed the rules change-and to
some extent for Vice President
Nixon-there was assurance, since
points Of inquiry" would be per-
mitted but not points Of order"
that Mr. Nixon would not be called
upon to rule formally as to the
continuing nature Of the Senate.
A ruling on a point of order would
be binding on the Senate. unless
overruled by a majority while an
answer to a point Of inquiry would
only express the opinion" OF the
Vice President.
. For the Democratic Party there
was the opportunity to make good
its 1856 platform promise to at
tempt to change Rule XXI.
. And for the Senate as a whole,
a situation which had threatened a
delay Of days-perhaps weeks-was
neutralized.
Before the proponents Of a re-
vision in the rules lost their battle
by a vote of SIS to 38, the Senators
and the packed galleries were
treated to parade Of oratory that
introduced John c. Calhoun. Walter
Reuther. James Madison, the late
Senator Robert Taft, President Ell
senhower, John Jay. Woodrow Will
son. the late Senator William Borah,
the comic strip characters Maggie
and Jiggs and an army Of lesser
notables, both past and present.
There were three major points of
view among the opponents to the
proposed change: There were those
who favored civil rights legislation,
but could not agree that the Sem
ate was not continuing body that,
like the Supreme Court, never dies
There were also those who favored
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06
Suez Canal:
Work Begins

Work got under way in earnest
last week on the tedious job Of
clearing the SueZ Canal of some
so Observation-Disclosures and cap
sized ships and broken bridges
blocking the channel.
Egypt. somewhat intransigeant
,on the subject of Just who would
90 the clearing. finally agreed to
permit full-scale operations by
U. N.-sponsored international fleet
of salvage vessels. The job, under
the direction of retired American
1t. Gen. Raymond A. Wheeler, is
expected to take months, although
estimates vary as to how many.
Meanwhile. Egypt requested the
United States to free all the Egyp-
tian dollar assets frozen in AmeriS
can banks for the past six months.
The move would involve more than
$50 million.
The United States speedily re-
jected the appeal. apparently on the
grounds that the Suez Canal con-
troversy was still unsettled. and
that claims of Americans against
Egypt and the Suez Canal Co. ma
tionalized last July by Col. NsSser,
were as yet unprotected.
Egypt announced on New Years
Day that the 1854 Anglo-Egyptian
treaty. providing that British troops
might be stationed in the Suez area
in the event any outside power"
were to intervene there, had been
"abrogated" as of October 81. 1856.
when British and French forces at
tackled Egypt.
Promptly, the Foreign Office in
London denied that Egypt could
nullify the treaty unilaterally. Tile
pact. said the British. would run to
October 10, 1861, and therefore
continued In full force and effect.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06

hearings and expected perhaps two
weeks of testimony before commit
tee action on the requested resolu-
ton
There was possibility that few
determined Senators. thoroughly
unhappy over the policy, or lack of
policy as some see it. of the United
States in the Middle East. might
seize the opportunity afforded by
the planned hearings on the Presi-
dents proposal to force a complete
airing Of White House and State
Department policy toward the Mid
die East. If such a development
takes shape. the hearings might
well stretch beyond the two weeks
suggested by Senator Knowland.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06

security against direct aggression:
where the government possesses
loyal security forces, and where
economic conditions are such as
not to make communism seem an
attractive alternative"
The President was gravely frank
in appraising the inherent dangers
OF the course he recommended
The policy involves certon bur-
dens ond indeed risks for the United
Stotes. Those who eovet the oreo will
not like whot is proposed Already, they
ore grossly distortine our purpose How
ever, before this Americans have seen our
Nations vitoI interests ond human free
dom in jeopordy. and their fortitude and
resolution hove been equal to the crisis,
regardless Of hostile distortion Of our
words, motives and octions."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06

civil rights legislation. but who
placed a higher value on unlimited
debate. And. Of course, there were
the Southerners who oppose any
civil rights legislation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06
Adverse Comment

Reaction to the Eisenhower pro-
posal among the nations directly
affected varied according to pre-
dictable patterns. Turkey, Iran
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06
Would Attack Poverty

The economic proposal is re-
ported to envisage a series Of de-
velopment projects primarily de-
signed to provide water for irri-
cation, thus increasing food sup
plies. and electrical power. thus
accelerating industrial development.
Added to subsidiary developments
such as roads and utilities and
technical training. this program is
expected to provide higher stand
ard of living as a weapon against
the discomfort. economic preSsures,
and rivalries that have contributed
to the<chaos Of the Middle East.
Basically. however. the Presi-
dents program talready being
called the Eisenhower Doctrine")
was. as the White House said the
day before Congress convened. de
signed to deter Communist armed
aggression in the Middle East
area"
THE action" said the President,
(which l propose would :. authorize
such assistance and cooperation
to include the employment of the
armed forces of the United States
to secure and protect the territorial
integrity and political independence
of such nations. requesting such
aid, against overt armed agrees
sion from any nation controlled by
intFrna tiOnal communion "
Apparently. the requested au-
thority would. not be used to in
tervene in a war between two nom
Communist nations of the area.
Neither. it appeared, would it be
directed against the continued
shipment of Soviet-bloc arms and
technicians to the Arab states.
But its terms were clearly de-
signed to apply to any attack by
q nation of the Soviet bloc against
q nation of the Middle East. Fur
Their. its terms probably could be
extended to an Arab state which
might come under Communist con-
troll and then attack one or several
Of its neighbors.
Mr.. Eisenhower made It clear
that he does not expect his proposal
to solve all the problems of the
seething Middle East. But he de-
clared: Experience shows that in
direct aggression rarely if ever sue
ceeds where there is reasonable
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-06
REVIEW OF THE WEEK
Middle East Big Stick

The Eisenhower administration
moved swiftly last week to take
firm hand in shaping the future
of the troubled Middle East.
Clearly emphasizing his estimate
of the perils to world peace now
existing in that vital area, the
President broke precedent to ad-
dress Joint session of Congress
yesterday afternoon in advance of
the traditional State-of-the- Union
message.
The lawmakers, hardly settled in
their seats since the organization
Thursday of the first session OF
the 85th Congress, were asked to
approve. by Joint resolution, a pro-
posal for American action to head
off Communist aggression that in
cluded:
. An initial $500 million, two
year program of economic assist
ance to all the nations of the area;
. Standby authority for the
President to order immediate in
tervention by American armed
forces if a. Communist nation
should attack any nation of the
Middle East.
The President took pains to as
sure the Congress and the world
that the United States intended its
policy in the Middle East to be
"consonant with the treaty obliga-
tions of the United States. in
Guiding the Charter of the United
Nations. and with any action or
recommendation of the United
Nations tand) if armed attack oc-
ours, be subject to the overriding
authority of the United Nations
Security Council in accordance
with the Charter"
Mr.. Eisenhower coupled his Mid
die East proposals with words Of
reinsurance for the Soviet Union.
After noting in blunt terms eff
forts of Russia to dominate the
Middle East dating far back IN the
history of old Czarist Russia. Mr..
Eisenhower said: The Soviet Union
has nothing whatsoever to fear
from the United States in the Mid
die East. or anywhere else in the
world, SO long as its rulers do not
themselves first resort to agrees
sion. That statement l make
solemnly and emphatically.