Aged Senator Appeals For Unity In U.S.A.

Wanganui Chronicle, 20 December 1950, Page 5

Aged Senator Appeals For Unity In U.S.A.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (Recd. 6 pm).— Stirred by the appeal for national unity from Senator Kenneth Me Kellar (Democrat), the Senate today sidetracked a resolution demanding a detailed report by President Truman on his recent talks with Mr Attlee. The Senate decided by 47 votes to 29 to send the resolution to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee without instructions. Observers considered the resolution would remain in the committee’s hands until Congress adjourns and would then die. Senator McKellar, aged 81, ''dean' of the Senate who rarely speaks in the chamber, began with a dramatic appeal to his colleagues to forget politics and unite behind the President in what he called the nation's “supreme moment of greatest test.” Senator McKellar said that never in his nearly 40 years in Congress had he seen Americans working at such cross purposes and so critical of one another as they were today. He added that anything done to discredit the President now was helping Russia. He begged Republicans to cease attacks on President Truman and Mr Acheson and work “only for our common country.” Senator William Fulbright (Democrat) accused the Republicans of pursuing a policy of “character assassination” in an effort to bring about changes in policies or of Government. Senator Owen Brewster (Republican) said the Republicans had show.t considerable moderation in waiting a month after the election on November 7 in the hope that President Truman would interpret the results of the election as a mandate to dismiss Mr Acheson.