MCNAMARA IN CONTROL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP73-00475R000401240001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 19, 2013
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 21, 1965
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

2IC TAT INUIc11-11.a(LN
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/12/19: CIA-RDP73-00475R000401240001-6
AUG 21 1965
Allen-Scott Report
" Mel\ amara
In Control'
By ROBERT S. ALLEN
UL COTT Mr. Allen
and PA
?t, Defense Secretary - McNamara
Is breaking more new ground
I to, expand and lighten: his di-
rect control. over the conduct
'0:pf the expanding war in Viet
(Nam.
? For this purpose, he has re-
sorted to the extraordinary step
'? of .setting up a special staff in
Oils own office.
; Made up of officers from all
the .services and headed by 'a
brigadier general, this unpre-
cedented group is under the
iirrunediate direction of Solis
l Horwitz, Assistant Defense Sec.'
retary charge of achninistra-
rion.
. The special staff communi-
cates directly with ?General
Westmoreland; ground comb
k.'
minder in Viet Nam, and Ad-
f.miral Sharp, naval commander.
Directly related to this unan-
nounced innovation is the dis-
i?patch to Viet Nam of a special
task force' to look into short-
ages, particularly 2.75 Inch air-
to-ground rockets.
t, This high-explosive projectile
??
is being expended ? at a high
?rate, and McNamara' reputedly
;wants to know why. He is cred-
vited as considering it excessive.
Brigadier General Hal Mc-
Cown, former senior adviser to
? the II Vietnamese Corps, heads
,:this Special task force of five
officers and five civilians. Sec.
'end in command is Max Stew-? ,
fart, management analyst in the
!Army. Comptroller Office.
, The group will submit its find-
tings directly to McNamara.
.1, The special staff '..McNamara ?
has set up in his own office
Is arousing critical conjecture.
fin both congressional and. Pen-
tagon quarters. '? ?
: the country, and Its $1,000-a-;
i. head members' are bting
?: edly prodded, to fork over
? '?.'? again! ?? 4
"1 Each has received a person.;
al letter from Democratic- Na-
tional Treasurer Richard Ma.!
guire notifying them that if: they,
want to revel at a special party;
? for President Johnson, ? they had.;
better hurry and pay up their
41,000 annual dues. 4
. That's the 'sole card of ad.;
'mission to this high-priced ex.:
? elusive affair. :
It takes place September n;
;at the home ;of anti-poverty
and peace corps director Sar-
gent Shriver, and Maguire -guar-ll
antees "President Johnson . wi;
be with us on this occasion.".:
Also that "every effort will be,
made to make the party as
? formal as possible, so everyone,
will thereby? have a mom ?pleas-'
t ."
t.r Private concern 'is ? being'
t Voiced over whether. the Joint
Chiefs of Staff Are .being ?
by-
tpassed,, and the possible effect,
t, on theirstatutory authority andl
;functions as prescribed , In -the
' It is being pointed out that
? Title V, Section 171-C expressly
states , Congress must be in-
formed of any "substantial"
'change in their role, as follows:
?"(c) (1) . . . no function
? which has been established by
law to be performed by the De-
partment of Defense, or any of-
ficer or agency thereof, shall be
substantially transferred, reas-
signed, abolished, or consoli-
dated until the expiration of the
first period of 30 calendar days
? /
? ?
of continuous session of Con. ? ;;; In addition to stressing, that,
gress following the date on . "each member must renew his;
which the Secretary of Defense ($1,000) membership as soon_ as-.
reports the pertinent details of 'possible,'. Maguire urges they
the action to be taken to the . bring one guest who it is be-)
Armed Services Committee of lieved will want to join the
the Senate and of the House of Club." f,
"As you know," ' continues
Maguire, "We are anxious to ex-
pand our membership, and be-,,t
lieve this will be a perfect oc-
casion for you to bring along .a
X. Section (d) (1) expli- new member. The President.
citly designates the Joint Chiefs .will be delighted to meet him."
of Staff to "prepare 'strategic Exact state of Democratlei
? plans ?and provide for the stra- National Committee', ,finances
tegic direction of the. armed' "a:: great mystery . among. par:t4t.
. .1
?
forces." ,? ? ; .
The question is being raised;
whether
Whether McNamara's speciali;
? staff conflicts with these tv.%o7,
statutes.
epresen s.
. .
Neither committee has been
notified of this move..:
Similarly, it is asSerted Title
The Treasury has recommend-ii
ed to President Johnson that;
military scrip be issued U.S.'.
troops in Viet Nam to curb the.
drain on our gold reserve; .1
; It has been definitely estab-i
lished that most of the Mount-'i
? ing flood of dollars spent. bY1
U.S. troops winds up in Frenchl
hands. The French .have large
holdings in Viet Nam, including
the principal banks. The De)
?: Gaulle government uses ihcsel
dollars to further raid, the stead71
diminishing U.S. gold ...re-1
? serve. . ?
Military scrip would largelY.r
plug' this loophole.. ",:'?
,)anest ,;.,;';'Presiclentg11114)/1:1
: Washington 'has , one of 'tile'
Declassified in Part Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/12/19: .CIA-RDP73-00475R000401240001-6 /