Evening star., 1940-12-19
Three-Mon Command
Is One of Four
Or Five Proposals
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT WILL present 10
his cabinet today, summoned for an
unusual Thursday session, four or
five plans for reorganizing the ad-
ministrative machinery of the de-
fense program.
Whatever decisions or conclusions
are reached in today's consideration
of this problem will, in turn, be
placed before the National Defense
Commission at White House meet
ing tomorrow. The weekly assem-
bly, of the council at the White
House has been postponed from its
customary Thursday hour until to-
morrow, to expedite whatever re-
visions may be agreed upon today.
Among the alternatives to be
placed before the full cabinet today
will be one for the formation of
three-man super council of defense,
probably to be composed of the
Secretaries of War and Navy and a
leading member of the present de-
fense commission. For this post,
William S. Knudsen, production
chief, generally is under considera-
ton, and the entire plan is presently
being worked out in detail by War
and Navy Department officials af-
ter a White House conference late
yesterday.
Chairman Might Be Named.
Nature of the other proposals for
revamping the defense set-up was
not made public in the White House
announcement today that such a
revision is under consideration
There has been frequent specula-
ton. however, that simple ap-
pointment of Defense Commission
chairman with more precise author
ity than now exists is one of the
courses considered
Disclosure of the intentions to
revise the administrative defense
machinery was made by Stephen T.
Early, secretary to the President,
during the questioning about re-
ports that there had been agree
ment in principle on the three-man
supreme defense Council.
Actually, Mr. Early said, the plan
was left with War and Navy De-
partment heads after their White
House meeting yesterday and a re-
quest made to them by the Presi-
dent that they return it with fur
ther details.
"The President has before him
and is studying along with this one
four or five plans" Mr.. Early said.
''in an effort to ascertain what, II
any, realignment of the defense set
up Is necessary. He has yet to
decide what part of these may be
meritorious or should be applied.
Announcement to Follow.
with the cabinet meeting this
afternoon and the Defense Com
mission tomorrow, as soon as all
hands can work out and agree on
the necessary and best plan there
will be an announcement of it."
Meanwhile. Secretary of War
Stimson intimated that President
Roosevelt would head the three-man
super" defense council, If it is set
up.
He gave quotation from George
Washington in praise of a single.
unified command to lend support to
his theory that President Roosevelt
would retain direction and control
over the proposed new council.
Mr.. Stimson refused to comment
on any details of the duties that
would be imposed on such a coun-
Gil, although he confirmed reports
of the administration plan when
questioned about it at a press con-
ference. At one time he referred to
the matter as having been reported
from the White House" When it
was suggested to him that no off,
cial report had been issued from
that source. he then referred to it
as reports published in the news
papers,"
When Mr.. Stimson was questioned
about the proposed Defense Coun-
Gil, he said that was matter which
the President has in charge and
(See DEFENSE, Page A-18)