Evening star., 1940-05-25
Roosevelt Maps
New Defense
Organization
Setup to Include
Experts in Various
Fields
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

President Roosevelt will create a
national defense emergency co-ordi-
mating group, it was announced at
the White House today, to represent
a cross-section of all American in
terests in the mobilization program
now contemplated.
Substantiating, in effect, an As
sociated Press dispatch early today
that the administration contem-
plated establishment of a national
defense council, official announce
ment of the Presidents present plan
was made by Stephen T. Early, sec
retary.
The administration intention, Mr..
Early said, is to call in experts from
every avenue of the Nations life,
including such as transportation,
communications. finance, agricul-
ture, labor, consumer groups and
industry.
Details Not Decided.
Joining these authorities from pri-
vate enterprise will be experts now
in Government service, the whole
to form a consulting and super
visory organization which will func-
ton in conjunction with develop
ment of the defense program. Mr..
Early emphasized that 1t is noe
the Presidents plan to supersede
any existing Government machin-
cry by this proposed co-ordinating
group, but rather to draw into a
more efficient performance all parts
OF the mobilization machine.
Thus far, Mr.. Early added, the
President has decided on the manner
In which he wants to approach the
problem, but has not fixed on the
details, the identities of those who
Will be asked to participate, or
the titles to be involved, Through
out its operation. the plan is to be
kept flexible and very elastic, Mr..
Early said, so that it may be adapted
to rapidly-changing conditions.
Memoranda on the project already
are being prepared by the Presi-
dents governmental advisers and
likewise have been requested of out
side authorities.
Mr.. Early stressed that the pri-
mary objective of the plan is to
stabilize American life in the face
OF extraordinary demands and con-
dltionS which may arise out Of
Europe's war. In other words, the
secretary explained; with this Ma
ton engaged in a major defense
effort, the President is anxious to
prevent prices from soaring, to as
sure producers of reasonable profits
and otherwise to forestall so far as
possible the highs and lows that
prevailed during the World War.
Through the proposed group. Mr..
Early concluded, the President
hopes to accomplish complete CO.
ordination of Government and
American life.
Turns Attention to Address.
While this project is being slowly
shaped up in the minds of admin
istration advisers. President Roose-
welt today turned his own attention
entirely to preparation of his radio
"flreside" address tomorrow night.
Scheduled for both domestic and
international broadcast at $50
O'Clock, the speech will be Mr.. Roose-
velts first such personal report to
the country since last September 3.
At that time, as Europe moved into
the war, the Chief Executive prom
1sed the Nation there would be no
"blackout of peace" in America.
During the World War, a board of
six cabinet officers and seven civil
ian experts constituted a Council Of
NATIONAL Defense. Administration
aides are said to have been studying
an enabling statute, dating back to
1916, to determine what revisions
in it may be necessary TO provide
for similar group to coordinate
and speed up the Nations present
extraordinary $3,297,0l1, ,352 defense
program.
The word that defense council
was planned conceded with forewarn-
1ngs OF Senate drive to expand the
Navy's air arm far beyond the limits
suggested in President Roosevelts
emergency preparedness program.
One avowed objective was greater
armada OF long-range planes, as the
"surest" guarantee against an in
vader's attack.
'As the 24-year- old Defense Council
Act now stands, the council would be
headed by the Secretaries of War.
Navy, Interior, Agriculture, Com
(See DEFENSE, Page A-6l