Justifies Expectations And Hopes Of Free World

Chronicle (Levin), 23 July 1949, Page 5

Justifies Expectations And Hopes Of Free World

(N.Z.P.A.-

—Reuter.

Covyright)

Received Friday, 8.50 p.m. NEW YORK, July 21. The New York Times, in a leader. said the TJnited States Senate 's ratification of the Atlantic Pact had justihed the hopes and expectations of a free world. Referring to the proposed military aid programme to back np the Tieaty, the Times said: "There can . he no douht of the obli'gation of the United States to extend such.aid just as there can he no douht ahout the ohligatior. of the other signatories to help themselves at least to the same degree. In the end Europe can he defended only by Europeans, but Europeans will be ahle to defend themselves only if their manpower can he supplemented by equipment which at present only the United States can supply." President Truman expected to send to Congress the 1,450, 000, 000-dollar programme for military aid to the signatories of the Atlantic Treaty and to certain other countries. Truman 's plan to enahle Western European countries to huild up their military strength against any threat of aggression follows the ratification of the treaty hy the Senate. It is generally expected that there will he far greater opposition to the arms proposals than to the ratification of the treaty. However, the Administration is already commitied in an exchange of Notes with the North Atlantic Powers to support the passage of such an arms programme. A Big Majority T'h' United States Senate to-day i'iitaaily ratilied by an overwhelimui; •aaj-iritv the 12-nation North Atlantic 'i'n-'ii v of nuitual def'ence. The treaty e :• ratilied bv 82 votes to 13. This u-f. I- tlie treaty is votes more than the i'l, or two-third, majority required luidst tiie' Constitution for ratilication • 'rcaties. Ti.e Senate, after 12 davs ' debate, j-.-hed aside all attompts bv a hand f Of opponents to persnade the Sena*e :>> attaeh reservat ions to the Treaiv ri'.e la'ilied it without amendm-ent in t" forni in which it was signed on f.i 21 bv Mr Aeiieson and the For- • _ .i Ministers of other North Atlan- ! ■ f'i)\vers. Tio- original signatories are the 'nited Stiiies, Britain, Belgium, Canada, Denaiark, France, Ieeiand, Italy Lu M'iidiotij'g, the " Netherlands, Norwa.y. and Fortugal. The Legislatures of sevc.'i of these nations — the United States, ib i i ai a. 'auada, Belgimn, Norway, Lnxetiibottrg, tind lceland — have now ratilied it. Senator Timi Foiuially, ehairman of ihe Senate Foreiyn Ilelations Oommittee, said after the Treaty had been rnlitied: " It is tnv lirtn eonviction Kai the I'aet cont ribnfed to tiie peace of the world. Tlie rights of the Uniteil states are ampl.v protected and T •..■ihe e the Wnteriean people will .-it-ee.iy approvo the action of the Seuf!' e Mr Aeheson said: "The decisive tia: ir* of the Senate vote makes •h-ar to the world the determination ■ 1 1 the Araeriean people to do their i'all part in maintaining the peaee and freedom. ' ' Senator Robert Taft, who voted -:-:ain1 ratilieation, said: "The Treaty snd anns programiue are a programrne f"i- war and not for peace," and, "of «-■ "it-e, in case Russia attacks any >>f ihe treaty signatories. I bethe United States shonld now ':•> to tlie Treaty agreenient. ' '