LETTER TO THE CHAIRMEN, CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES ON MILITARY AND NAVAL AFFAIRS ON UNIFICATION OF THE ARMED FORCES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00610R000100140010-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 9, 2002
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: June 15, 1946
• Content Type: LETTER

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Harry S. Truman, 1946 ., , . v June 15 [1371
Q.. Are they going over there?
'm PRESIDENT. No, they are not. They
will send representatives.'
115.} 0. Mr. President, do you care to
say what xu:i will do about the emergency
strike legislation, if it comes to you with the
Case bill rider on it?
THE pRESIDENT. I never comment on leg-
islation until it is before me. Then I will
analyze it, and I will let you know more
about it.
[x6.1 Q. Mr. President, Senators O'Ma-
boney and Overton proposed a plan under
which the Federal Government contribution
Executive Order 9735 "Establishing a Cabinet
Committee on Palestine and Related Problems" (3
CFR, 1943-'1948 ComP., P? 542) provided that each
member of the Committee should designate an
alternate to act for and in his behalf. Selected to
serve on the Board of Alternates were Henry F.
Grady, as alternate for the Secretary of State and
designated Chairman, and Goldthwaite Dorr and
Herbert Gaston, as alternates for the Secretaries of
War and Treasury.
to the District would have some relationship
to the amount of tax-exempt property-
Government property-here; and also are
proposing that the lump sum be raised from
6 to io million dollars a share. Have you
any comment on that, sir?
THE PRESIDENT. I am familiar with the
so-called Overton plan. I was on the Ap-
propriations Committee in the Senate when
Senator Overton worked out that bill. I
don't know anything about the new plan,
but the suggestions and the equitable ap-
proach to it that the Overton plan followed
is a good thing. I was in favor of the Over-
ton plan when it was first suggested.
Q. And what about the boost in the lump
sum?
THE PRESIDENT. The Overton plan con-
templated the boost in the lump sum.
Reporter: Thank you, Mr. President.
NOTE. President Truman's sixty-ninth news confer-
ence was held in his office at the White House at
so:30 a.m. on Friday, June 14, 1946.
Letter to the Chairmen, Congressional Committees on Military
and Naval Affairs on Unification of the Armed Forces.
June 15, 1946
My dear --------:
One of the most important problems con-
fronting our country today is the establish-
ment of a definite military policy.
In the solution of this problem, I consider
it vital that we have a unified armed force
for our national defense.
At my request the Secretary of War and
the Secretary of the Navy have made a
sincere effort to settle the differences exist-
ing between the services on this question.
They have made splendid progress.
They have reached an agreement on eight
important elements of unification, and with
reference to the four upon which there was
not full agreement, their differences are not
irreconcilable.
On May 31, 1946 the Secretary of War
and the Secretary of the Navy delivered a
report to me of the results of their efforts.
I have replied to them today stating my
position on those points submitted to me
for decision.
I enclose herewith a copy of the report of
the Secretary of War and the Secretary of
the Navy, together with a copy of my reply
to them.
You will note that there are now presented
twelve basic principles upon which the
unification of the services can be based.
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Harry S. Truman, 1946 June 15 [1371
5, Council of National Defense.
To integrate our foreign and military
policies and to enable the military services
and other agencies of government to coop-
erate more effectively in matters involving
our national security. The membership of
this council should consist of the Secretary of
State, the civilian head of the military estab-
lishment, the civilian heads of the military
services, and the Chairman of the National
Security Resources Board, referred to below.
6. National Security Resources Board.
To establish, and keep up to date, policies
and programs for the maximum use of the
,\'ation's resources in support of our national
security. It should operate under the Coun-
cil and be composed of representatives of the
military services and of other appropriate
agencies.
7. The Joint Chiefs of Staff.
To formulate strategic plans, to assign
logistic responsibilities to the services in sup-
port thereof, to integrate the military pro-
grams, to snake recommendations for inte-
gration of the military budget, and to provide
for the strategic direction of the United
States military forces.
8. No single Military Chief of Stag.
In the opinion of the War Department, the
military establishment should contain a
single military Chief of Staff, who would
serve as principal military adviser, available
to offer advice when differences of opinion
arise among the military heads of the several
services. The Navy feels that the Joint
Chiefs of Staff should be the highest source
of military advice. The War Department is
willing to omit the feature of a single Chief
of Staff.
9. Central Intelligence Agency.
To compile, analyze, and evaluate infor-
mation gathered by various government
agencies, including the military, and to fur-
nish such information to the National De-
fense Council and to other government agen-
cies entitled thereto. It should operate under
the Council. An organization along these
lines, established by Executive Order, al-
ready exists.
io. Procurement and Supply.
There should be an agency to prevent
wasteful competition in the field of military
supply and procurement through joint plan-
ning and coordination of procurement, pro-
duction and distribution.
it. Research Agencies.
There should be an agency to coordinate
the scientific research and development of
the military services.
12. Military Education and Training.
There should be an agency to review
periodically the several systems of education
and training of personnel of the military
services and to adjust them into an inte-
grated program.
A plan of unification containing these
twelve elements has my unqualified endorse-
ment. The Secretary of War, the Secretary
of the Navy, the Chief of Staff of the. Army
and the Chief of Naval Operations have
assured me that they will support such a
plan.
It is my hope that the Congress will pass
legislation as soon as possible effecting a uni-
fication based upon these twelve principles.
Very sincerely yours,
HARRY S. TRUMAN'
rrorE: This is the text of identical letters addressed
to the Honorable Elbert D. Thomas, Chairman of
the Senate Committee on Military Affairs; the Hon-
orable David I. Walsh, Chairman of the Senate
Committee on Naval Affairs; the Honorable Andrew
J. May, Chairman of the House Committee on Mili-
tary Affairs; and the Honorable Carl Vinson, Chair-
man of the House Committee on Naval Affairs.
For the President's letter to the Secretaries of War
and Navy upon receiving their joint report of May
31, see Item 138.