Evening star., 1940-06-07

chimes, the men are helpless. The
time limits of modern war have
been so reduced that there Is no
longer opportunity to grid our
loins after war has begun. I'm
less we can learn these lessons.
so terribly taught by immediate
events, we shall perish, and we
shall deserve to perish.
We must plan, and plan now,
to meet imminent danger, i'm
mediate emergency; but we must
do more than that. We must
plan for the future of America
as we'll as for the present; for
the safety of our children, as we'll
as for our own. We must set up
permanent planning agency.
which shall be concerned with
the defense Of the state, now and
for the future, and which shall
command such a measure Of
public confidence as to assure its
own permanence. 1t must be
concerned only with planning.
1t must not have upon it the
pressure Of administrative red
tape or exacting detail. 1t must
have time to think.
College of National Defense.
We might call this agency the
College of National Defense. 1t
should be composed of a group
of the most able, widely expert
enced and progressive officers of
the Army and Navy, with one or
two of the best career men from
the State Department and at
least one top-flight economist.
In the beginning, the staff should
be somewhat larger (because of
the imminence of danger and the
tremendous amount of pioneer
work to be done) than it need
be later. To assist in this work,
we should call to the aid of the
staff the best and brightest of
our younger officers, at first to
work as assistants, later on in
annual classes as students after
graduation from the Army or
Navy War Colleges or after COM
pletlng certain special courses.
The primary duty of the Col
lege of National Defense should
be to advise the President in his
constitutional duties as COM
mander in chief of the armed
forces of the United States; it's
first job, the formulation of a
military policy. 1t should pre-
pare special reports as the Presi-
dent might require on specific
subjects, as we'll as formulate a
basic military policy. It's help
and advice should be available
to the committees of Congress
which are concerned with ma
tional defense. 1t should work
in close collaboration with the
new Council of National Defense,
and with the State, War and
Navy Departments, and suitable
officers should be detailed to in
sure such liaison, as well as with
the Military. Naval and Foreign
Affairs Committees and the Ap-
preparations Committees of the
two houses of Congress. Its eff
forts should be directed. among
other things. toward the elimina-
ton Of confusion, lost motion and
duplication of effort, and toward
the coordination of the labors
Of the three departments repre-
sented on its staff. But the off,
GERS of that staff should be re-
lieved of all departmental control
while so serving, giving them full
freedom of action and expression.
Would Give BLANK Check"
In initiating this plan, We can
do little more than select the
very best men available, on the
ground of experience. intelli-
gence, courage and proven ability,
and say to them:
Gentlemen, you have a blank
check. You may call in to assist
you or to consult with you any
officers of the armed services you
need, any officer of the foreign
service, any civil servant of the
Government. You may have any
money you require for research,
travel, technical advice and cleri-
L. al.