1957: United States

A summary of United States foreign affairs, political events, and legislative and judicial developments in 1957 is presented below.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The Middle East.

Eisenhower Doctrine.

Two days after the opening of the first session of the 85th Congress on January 3, President Eisenhower appeared before a joint session of the two Houses and asked for a Congressional mandate to use U.S. military and economic power, including force if necessary, to defend the Middle East against the danger of Communist aggression. This became known as the Eisenhower Doctrine.

Specifically, President Eisenhower asked for (1) permission to use the armed forces of the United States as he deems necessary to secure and protect the territorial integrity and political independence of any Middle East nation against overt armed aggression from any nation controlled by international Communism. Such help would be given only if requested by the endangered country and would be subject to the overriding authority of the UN Security Council; (2) American economic aid to help the Middle East develop the economic strength necessary to the maintenance of national independence; (3) military aid to any nation or nations in the area who want it; and (4) use of Mutual Security Funds, already available, for economic and defensive military purposes. The President asked that $200,000,000 a year be made available for two years, starting July 1, 1957, for such military and economic assistance.

Naturally, the proposal was severely condemned by Russia as sharply aggressive, and reaction in the Arab world amounted to a curt 'mind your own business.' Western Europe, on the other hand, supported it enthusiastically, and Secretary of State Dulles called it a plan to 'stop World War III before it begins.' The newly created committee of Democratic Party leaders assailed the proposals as 'improvisations' in a global foreign policy which 'fails to face the facts.' Senator W. Scott Kerr of North Carolina bitterly denounced it as an undated declaration of war. A 34-word Democratic substitute for the Doctrine was denounced by Secretary Dulles, and ultimate approval of Eisenhower's plan by both Democrats and Republicans was assured.

Almost immediately a resolution was drafted that would authorize the President: (1) to employ the armed forces of the United States as he deems necessary to secure and protect the territorial integrity and political independence of Middle East nations against overt aggression from any Communist-dominated country; and (2) to assist Middle East nations both in the development of economic strength and through military-assistance programs.

A substitute plan was offered by Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon which, he said, would operate more directly through the United Nations than the Eisenhower Doctrine and would protect Israel against all aggression. His plan would require Congressional approval before the President could send arms into the Middle East. It also proposed use of U. S. forces to halt any aggression, not just an attack by Russia in the Middle East.

But the House Foreign Affairs Committee quickly approved the Administration proposal 24 to 2. Then, in a test vote on the measure, the House voted 262 to 146 to take up the bill under a 'closed rule,' which permitted no amendments to be offered from the floor. Later, on January 30, the resolution passed by a vote of 355 to 61, with opposition coming only from Republican isolationists and a few liberal Democrats.

Meanwhile, the resolution was having tough going in the Senate, especially from a small group of Democrats bent on subjecting the Administration's entire Middle East policy to searching scrutiny. Among them were Senators Russell of Georgia, Fulbright of Arkansas, Humphrey of Minnesota, and Mansfield of Montana. The continuing Egyptian-Israeli stalemate also seemed to dampen enthusiasm over the Doctrine.

After two months of discussion in the Senate, Senator Richard B. Russell, a leader of the powerful Southern Democrats, offered a substitute proposal which would sanction the use of military forces but would deny the President new authority to extend economic aid. But Secretary Dulles contended that a resolution stripped of the economic-aid provision would destroy the value of the Doctrine.

The Russell proposal was defeated by a roll-call vote of 58 to 28, in what was considered a major foreign policy victory for President Eisenhower, who had warned that approval of the revision would destroy U.S. efforts to check Communist aggression in the Middle East. Thirty-eight Republicans and 20 Democrats voted against the amendment, while 23 Democrats and 5 Republicans voted for it.

The Senate then voted 48 to 43 to approve an amendment by Senator Mansfield pledging support of UN police forces in the Egypt-Israel area. Forty-six Democrats, plus Senator Javits of New York and Senator Case of South Dakota voted for the amendment, while 43 Republicans voted against it. The Senate then passed the original resolution overwhelmingly, 72 to 19, on March 5. Three Republicans voted against the resolution: Jenner of Indiana, McCarthy of Wisconsin, and Malone of Nevada. Forty-two Republicans and 30 Democrats voted in favor of it.

The House then concurred with some minor changes, 350-60, with 186 Democrats and 164 Republicans voting for it, and 33 Democrats and 27 Republicans against.

In signing the measure on March 9 President Eisenhower declared that the newly created policy marked an important step in the development of friendly relations between the United States and the Middle East. The action put Russia and the Middle Eastern countries with close Russian connections on notice that the policy had now become the declared purpose of the United States, to fight if necessary to prevent the strategic Middle East, with its vast oil resources, from being taken over by any overt aggression of Soviet Communism.