LETTER TO ALLEN W. DULLES FROM MAXWELL D. TAYLOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01009A001402460018-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 21, 2013
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: February 7, 1956
• Content Type: LETTER

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UNITED STATES ARMY
THE CHIEF OF STAFF
--motive P istcp
7-44 n
7 February 1956
Dear Allen:
The Commandant of the Army War College has informed me
of his invitation to you to address the National Strategy Seminar to
be held at the College during the period 6-8 June, and I sincerely
hope that you will be able to accept.
The Army War College is the senior Army school for officer
education. To be eligible for attendance, students must have demon-
strated over a period of years their qualifications for future as-
signment to positions of the highest responsibility. The course of
instruction lasts 10 months and covers a number of high level studies,
both national and international in scope.
The Seminar is one of the highlights of the curriculum and
will combine the work of the 200 student officers, the faculty, 50
nationally prominent civilians, and a number of military leaders
of all services. I am sure that the seminar will leave the students
with a better grasp of our national objectives, and of the problems
inherent in the planning of National Strategy. Likewise, I believe
that the guests will derive great benefit from the exchange of views.
An opening address by you on the world situation in 1956, and
Soviet capabilities and limitations in the future, would provide a
firm basis for the ensuing discussions, and would do much to insure
the success of the Seminar.
Sincerely,
MAXWELL D. TAYLOR
General, United States Army
Chief of Staff
Honorable Allen W. Dulles
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington 25, D. C.
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Executive r31_,try
ARMY WAR COLLEGE
CARLISLE BARRACKS. PENNSYLVANIA
7 February 1956
The Army War College will be greatly honored if you will
consent to address its National Strategy Seminar, to be held at
Carlisle Barracks, 6 to 8 June, 1956.
In January of last year you were kind enough to accept a
similar invitation. Unfortunately, the later press of circumstances
prevented you from being present. Mr. Robert Amory, Jr., whom
you nominated to take your place in these circumstances, contributed
greatly to the success of the Seminar by his very fine presentation?
for which the College was deeply grateful to both you and him.
We are hopeful that this year you will be able to be with us in
person. The purpose of the Seminar does not differ substantially from
that of last year, although the date has been changed from March to
June so that the Seminar will serve as the culminating feature of the
academic year. We expect to have with us a group of about fifty
distinguished civilian guests, together with a number of military
leaders, to discuss with the students and faculty of the Army War College
the broad subject of our national strategy. Based on last year's experience,
and the warm indorsements of participants., we are confident that the free
interchange of ideas with and between guests of such prominence will
result in mutual benefit to all. The Seminar will be classified as SECRET.
No remarks by participants will be disseminated outside the College unless
consent is first obtained.
To constitute a framework for the discussion we are anxious to
provide an authoritative analysis of the world situation in 1956 and an
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estimate of Soviet capabilities and limitations for the next 10-15 years.
As the person best qualified to discuss this subject, I invite you to address
the Seminar at 9:00 a. m. on 6 June 1956, on the subject: ttThe World
Situation. t'
I am inclosing a brief suggestion as to the scope of the lecture,
as we envision it; also., the scopes of the other three lectures which are
scheduled during the Seminar,, together with. indications as to the other
speakers being invited.
We would, of course, like to have you remain as long as your
commitments will permit. In this connection,, the plenary session will
take place on 8 June.
We are most hopeful that= despite your arduous duties, you will
find it possible to accept this invitation.
Sincerely,
MAX/S. JOHNSON
Major Genf-'r/al, United States Army
Commandant
Honorable Allen W. Dulles
Director, Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C.
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NATIONAL STRATEGY SEMINAR
The World Situation
9:00 AM, 6 June 1956 (Mr. Allen W. Dulles)
A survey of the state of the world in 1956, highlighting
major problem areas and the relative positions of the two power
blocs with respect to these areas; an analysis of the significance
of the neutral nations and the relatively undeveloped areas to the
power balance; an estimate of Soviet capabilities and limitations
for the next 10-15 years.
Political Aspects of National Strategy
11:00 AM, 6 June 1956 (Hon. John F. Dulles)
A discussion of the long and short range political goals
of the United States; the relationships between such goals and cold,,
limited, or global war; relative political strengths and weaknesses
of the two power blocs; psychological implications, involved in the
development and implementation of national political strategy; a
summarizing projection of the optimum national political strategy,
and its implementation, over the next 10-15 years.
Economic Aspects of National Strategy
9:00 AM, 7 June 1956 (Mr. Joseph M. Dodge)
A discussion of the long and short range economic goals
of the United States; the relationships between such goals and cold,
limited, or global war; relative economic strengths and weaknesses
of the two power blocs; psychological implications involved in the
development and implementation of national economic strategy; a
summarizing projection of the optimum national economic strategy,
and its implementation, over the next 10-15 years.
The Role of the Army in National Strategy
11:00 AM,. 7 June 1956 (Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor)
A discussion of military considerations in the determination
and execution of national strategy; the role and requirements of the Army
in our national strategy today and its implementation over the next 10-15
years.
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