The Bipartisans

As Washington hearings go, it lacked excitement; there was no crowd, not many reporters, never a harsh word between witnesses and inquiring Congressmen. But the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, preparing a report on the ratification of the peace treaty with Japan and supplementary Pacific defense alliances, gave an uncommon show of bipartisan agreement over a problem in Asia.

The Democratic Administration's Dean Acheson led off with a tribute to two eminent Republicans. "Far-reaching . . . forward-looking," said the Secretary, of Douglas MacArthur's leadership in Japan. "Greatest skill, greatest persistence, greatest tact," he said, of John Foster Dulles' role in negotiating the treaty.

The Republicans' Senator Charles Tobey added to the good feeling: "I would like to say to [Dulles and Acheson] that I have listened to each of your presentations . . . with a great deal of pride and satisfaction that I am an American . . ." The Democrats' John Sparkman chimed in: "This has been one of the finest demonstrations of bipartisan cooperation . . ." The Democrats' Walter George complimented Dulles again ("one of the finest accomplishments") and MacArthur again ("fine record").

In four days of hearings, only minor objections were voiced. All the committee, Democrats and Republicans, seemed ready to accept the Dulles-MacArthur plan for Japan.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.