ATLANTIC PACT IS RATIFIED BY THE U.S. SENATE; BIG MAJORITY

Wanganui Chronicle, 23 July 1949, Page 5

ATLANTIC PACT IS RATIFIED BY THE U.S. SENATE; BIG MAJORITY

WASHINGTON, July 21.—The United States Senate today formally ratified by an overwhelming majority the 12-national North Atlantic Treaty ot mutual defence. The treaty was rati-

fied by 82 votes to 13. This gave the treaty 18 votes more than the 64 or two-thirds majority required under the Constitution for ratification of treaties.

The Senate, after 12 days’ debate, pushed aside all attempts by a handful of opponents to persuade Senate to attach reservations to the treaty and ratified it without amendment in the form in which it was signed on April 24 by Mr. Acheson and the Foreign Ministers of other North Atlantic Powers. The original signatories are the United States, Britain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands- Norway, and Portugal. The legislatures of seven of these nations—the United States. Britain, Canada, Belgium, Nor* way, Luxembourg, and Iceland—have now ratified it.

Senator Tom Connally, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said after the treaty was ratified: “It is my firm conviction that

the pact has contributed to the peace of the world. The rights of the United States are amply protected and I believe the American people will strongly approve the action of Senate." Mr. Acheson said: “The decisive nature of the Senate vote makes clear to the world the determination of the American people to do their full part In maintaining peace and freedom." . Senator Robert Taft, who voted against ratification, said: "The treaty and arms programme are a programme for war, not for peace" and "of course, in case Russia attacks any of the treaty signatories I believe the United States should now live up to the treaty agreement." The Italian Chamber of Deputies tonight ratified the North Atlantic Treaty by 323 votes to 160, says a Rome message. This is the chamber’s second ballot on the pact, as yesterday's vote which was also in favour of the treaty was declared void because the number of votes cast exceeded the number of voters present. The discrepancy was caused by some votes on another issue going into the wrong box and was not discovered until most deputies had left the chamber. The pact will now go to Senate for ratification. The debate in the Upper House is expected to begin on Tuesday- „ . The British United Press Pans correspondent says that in the “red belt” of the industrial suburbs of Paris and at Rouen there were 15minute token strikes today to express a Communist protest against the Atlantic Pact Ratification of the Pact will be debated in the National Assembly tomorrow