The Press TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1949. U.S. Congress And The Pact
It is a matter for regret that, in spite of all efforts to quicken the legislative machinery, the United States Senate has failed to ratify the Atlantic Pact and to approve its accompanying military aid appropriation before the opening of the Foreign Ministers’ talks on Germany. Almost no one in the United States doubts that the pact will be ratified; rather more fear that the programme of military aid will be scaled down or financed out of Marshall Aid funds, as some Senators have urged. But while there is uncertainty on any of these points the combined hand of the Western Powers will be weakened. Only the full assurance offered by the pact, for instance, is likely to overcome the understandable French fears of Germany and of what a Germany economically and politically restored may again grow to be. The “ New York Times ” may not have overstated the case when it described the Atlantic Pact as the Key to the success of the FourPower meeting, first because it is “ the most convincing expression of “ the solidarity of the Western “ nations and their determination to “defend themselves against further “ Soviet aggression ”, and second, because it is designed equally to protect the Western nations against new aggression from a resurgent Germany. Some interesting issues have been raised in the four weeks that the pact has been before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Mr Acheson, Secretary of State, it is generally conceded, put the case for the pact admirably in his evidence to the committee and in the iong cross-examination to which he was subjected by the Senators. In dealing with the Obligations of the United States under the pact he was forthright and candid—too candid for some who hoped they might have to do no more than put their naines to a high-sounding document, costing their country nothing and committing it to nothing. While the pact could not automatically commit the United States to war, Mr Acheson explained, it was still a solemn Undertaking on the part of the United States to act effectively to maintain the collective security of the member nations. The United States Congress would be bound to make “ an honest judgment ” about the action to be taken in any set of circumstances. If the Circumstances were again those of “an “ all-put armed attack such as has “ twice occurred in this century”, he added, no action other than the use of aimed force could be effective. Speaking of the military aid proposals, Mr Acheson said the pact did not bind the United States to any specific programme; but it did bind the United States to the principle of self-help and mutual aid, again according to its honest judgment of the need. Although Washington correspondents noted that Mr Acheson’s candour on these matters caused some Senatorial alarm and “ rumblings ” on Capitol Hill, they were convinced that in the end it would pay dividends. And so it appears to have turned out. Senator Connally, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and one of the early doubters, has since done his best to speed the committee hearings in the hope of securing approval of the pact and the military aid programme while the Foreign Ministers are still in session. A few days ago the New York “Herald Tribune” remarked that so far no fundamental criticism of any consequence had appeared against the basic policy. The objections raised have been objections to detail. They touch the main issue no more" closely than the theoretical debate about the President's power to “ make ” war in an emergency and to override the prerogative of Congress to “ declare ” war. Here again the false position of those who would like to “ have it both ways ” has been exposed. Some Senators would like to deny any such power to the President; but they have been compelled to admit that in certain circumstances only swift action by the President, ahead of Congressional decision, might save the nation from a disastrous blow in the first hours of a hew war. Mr Acheson has taken with him to Paris both Dr. Jessup and Mr Dulles. Senators Connally and Vandenberg, who might have been expected to join the delegation, have remained behind to press the ratification of the pact and the military aid appropriation. Full Congressional action on the two measures is unlikely to be completed in time; but the next best thing may reasonably be expected—a prompt and favourable report on both from the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee.
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Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25811, 24 May 1949, Page 4
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758The Press TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1949. U.S. Congress And The Pact Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25811, 24 May 1949, Page 4
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