Mr. WILCOX. You could remedy the difficulty by inserting the Congress of the United States in that paragraph. Senator SMITH. It is a little technicality, and I am just curious about it. NO REACTION FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT Mr. WILCOX. We have sent this to the State Department for their reaction. We have not yet received a reply from the Department on it. The CHAIRMAN. How long ago have they had it? Mr. WILCOX. The resolution was introduced the 27th. It was printed on the 28th. They received it the same day. I assume they received it the 29th. We have an acknowledgement from them, but they have not yet had the time to get clearance on an answer. Senator SPARKMAN. The 27th was Saturday, the 28th was Sunday. Monday was the 29th and Tuesday was the 30th. Senator SMITH. They have nothing else to do over there. They might have acted on this. Senator SPARKMAN. They should have been giving some thought to this, anyhow. Senator SMITH. This is, in a sense, an extension of what we discussed earlier this year. Senator SPARKMAN. We ought to have their reaction. Senator SMITH. That is true. Don't you think that an expression now is valuable psychologically? I feel very strongly on the subject. Senator SPARKMAN. I certainly do. It is badly needed. The CHAIRMAN. Can we report the resolution favorably to the calendar unless there is objection by the Department? Senator MANSFIELD. I so move. Senator SMITH. Second the motion. SHOULD THE RESOLUTION BE BROADENED? Senator GILLETTE. I have no objection, but it just occurs to me that there is a danger in this because it is limited to this particular unsettled area in Germany. There are other nations over there, other people who have aspirations along these same lines, particularly in Czechoslovakia and in Latvia, also in the Middle East, and it just occurs to me that action taken, of this kind, expressing sympathy with these actions in one area might raise the question in these other areas why they are expressing sympathy with the people of East Germany and no expression of sympathy with us. Wouldn't it be worthy of consideration to think of a resolution which would be broader, carry the same expression of sympathy? Senator SMITH. We can pass this because of the immediacy of this Berlin thing, then begin to think further of the previous Dulles resolution, leaving out the controversy about past treaties, and so on. Take that language, which I thought was a beautiful expression, and a word of encouragement along this line to people who are resisting oppression. 1 H.J. Res. 200, Declaration on Captive Peoples. See p. 167. Senator GILLETTE. I have no objection to this. I think it is a wise move, but I am afraid there is a possibility of there being a misconstruction placed on it that we are going to the length of Senate action in expressing sympathy with these people where there are a dozen other areas where there is unrest and deep feeling, that they need our sympathetic expression of attitude toward them. Senator MANSFIELD. It might be well to keep this in mind. This is the only disunited country, so to speak, and it would be the first declaration that I can recall on the part of the Congress as to what our position would be on the unification of Germany. I think it would strengthen Adenauer's hand tremendously. The biggest question in the minds of the Germans is unification. It supersedes everything else. You have the elections coming up in a matter of a few months. Adenauer is out campaigning. He says he will have a tough time. Because of what is still happening in East Germany and East Berlin, while riots are still going on, now would be the time to implement the President's grant of $15 million to West Berlin last week with a followup of a resolution of this sort of thing. Senator GILLETTE. That argument is persuasive with me. Perhaps it would be well to do as suggested by Senator Smith, that we approve this and get it to the calendar for the psychological effect suggested by Senator Mansfield and immediately work on a resolution expressing in a broader way our sympathy toward the aspirations of all peoples. Senator SMITH. I will be glad to take up with the State Department a resolution which was previously considered, which had the objectionable feature, and leave that out, and leave in the statements along this line. The CHAIRMAN. You have to be careful about that. You have the French and Africa. I agree with Mike that this is a specific situation apart from any other situation in Europe. Senator SMITH. We can explore that, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. It is all right to do some exploration, but you have to be careful not to subject ourselves to criticism and stub our toes. Senator SPARKMAN. That is why I think the State Department ought to be consulted before we take action as a committee to make certain that it is in compliance with their views, that the wording is proper. MOTION CARRIED SUBJECT TO STATE DEPARTMENT APPROVAL Senator SMITH. The motion was to OK this subject to the State Department's report on it. Senator GILLETTE. I have no objection. Senator SMITH. Not put it up until we have heard from them. Senator MANSFIELD. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. If there is no objection, it will be reported accordingly. Senator MANSFIELD. With the proviso. поп The CHAIRMAN. Yes, subject to State Department approval. [Double taxation conventions with Belgium and Australia were ordered reported and the committee then recessed at 12:30 to meet again at 2:00 p.m.] MINUTES THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1953 UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, The committee met again at 2 p.m. Present at the afternoon meeting: Chairman Wiley, Senators Smith, Hickenlooper, Taft, Langer, Green, Sparkman, and Mansfield. Executive H, 83d Congress, 1st Session, the Agreement Revising and Renewing the International Wheat Agreement, was ordered reported by voice vote and the Chairman instructed that other members of the committee absent be polled. The Bricker reservation to the Status of Forces Agreement pending on the Senate calendar was discussed but no final action was taken. Executives D,E,F and G, 83d Congress, 1st Session, Agreements with The Federal Republic of Germany were next discussed. They were ordered reported to the Senate after a canvass is made of absent members of the committee. It was stated that Senator Gillette wished to be recorded as opposed to the reporting of the agreements. Subcommittees were ordered set up by the Chairman on S. Con. Res. 27 and S. Con. Res. 32, relating to armaments and disarmament; on the Danish Ships proposal, and on S.J. Res. 12, introduced by Mrs. Smith of Maine, relating to Passamaquody tidal power project. For record of proceedings, see official transcript. The committee adjourned at 3:15 p.m. P.S.-Later, the canvass of the sentiment of committee members on the German Debt Agreements, indicated that Senator Knowland favored its reporting, as did Senators George, Langer, and Humphrey. Senator Ferguson reserved his position on the matter. The canvass of members on the renewal of the International Wheat Agreement indicated the following Senators as favoring reporting: Senators Langer, Knowland, George, Green, and Gillette. (657) MINUTES MONDAY, JULY 13, 1953 UNITED STATES SENATE, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee appointed to consider commercial treaties met at 10 a.m. in the Foreign Relations Committee room. Members of the subcommittee are: Senator Hickenlooper, chairman, Senators Ferguson, Knowland, Sparkman, and Humphrey. Present: Senator Hickenlooper. The treaties considered were those of friendship, commerce, and navigation with Israel, Ethiopia, Italy, Denmark, Greece, Germany, and Japan. For record of proceedings, see official transcript. (658) MINUTES MONDAY, JULY 13, 1953 UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee appointed to consider S. Con. Res. 27 and S. Con. Res. 32, resolutions relating to disarmament, met at 2:30 p.m. in the committee room. Subcommittee members are: Senator Smith of New Jersey, chairman, Senators Hickenlooper, Knowland, Green, Sparkman, and Gillette. Present: Senators, Smith, Green, and Gillette. The subcommittee discussed the question of hearings. Senator Green felt that hearings should not be held at this time. It was Senator Gillette's thought that perhaps they should be held. Senator Smith stated he desired to consult with other members of the subcommittee. He plans to do so between now and the regular meeting day of the committee on Tuesday, July 21st. No official record was kept of this meeting. (659) |