Evening star., 1940-06-07

ton In possession of any govern
ment agency Is at your disposal.
Time is Of vital Importance, that
direction may be given to our
efforts and our expenditures. But
you are not required to execute,
only to plan. What is required is
a military policy for the United
States and detailed plans to i'm
plement that policy"
Later on, as plans develop into
accomplishments, we would have
nucleus Of trained officers who
could train others to carry on
this work; and a flow back into
the services of men who would be
invaluable in the execution of the
plans they had helped to make.
OF course, such a policy, and
such plans, would not be static
and lifeless things. Constant re-
vision of detail would be essen
tial, though the policy itself
might well rest on certain basic
principles which would be more
or less permanent-for a minor
example, that no non-American
air base might be permitted
within certain geographical linz
its. Firmness in principle, f1ex-
lbiity in detail to meet chang
ing world conditions would seem
the soundest approach to the
problem
Support of Public.
One great and tremendous ad-
vantage would be Immediately
gained; the support of that pub
lie confidence which can be the
only secure foundation for any
continuous program of national
defense. But to insure this, the
caliber of the men chosen to di-
rect the College of National De-
fense should be such as to leave
no doubt either of their ability
or their devotion. Fortunately,
we have such men. We have, for
example, Admiral William D.
Leahy, retired, lately chief of
naval operations and before that
commander in chief of the Battle
Force, whose gifts of character.
intellect and experience can be
far better employed to his coun-
try's benefit in a time like this
than as Governor of Puerto Rico.
We have 1t. Gen. Hugh A. Drum.
who was chief of staff of the
first American Army in the
World War and has since been
commandant of the Command
and General Staff School, deputy
chief of staff, executive secre-
tary OF the Baker Board for the
coordination of our aviation
policy and whose talents are
hardly being given full scope at a
time like this as commanding
general of the I'd Corps Area.
We have Brig. Gen Frank M.
Andrews, former commanding
general of the General Head
quarters Air Force, now in po-
sition of great responsibility, it
is true, as assistant chief of staff
for operations and training. but
whose knowledge of modern air
forces and capacity for clear
thinking could be made of even
greater service. There are others
Of no less merit and ability, in
the Army, Navy, Marine Corps
and foreign service Let a group
OF such men as these be given
full freedom, time, money and
help. This is no moment for
precedent or for politics. This
is no moment for red tape or
hesitation.
We are going to spend imme-
diately $4,000, 100000 for the ma
tional defense. We are going to
spend other billions in the fu-
ture. These are large sums. but
we do not begrudge them. They
are needed.
Let us, however. make sure
that for each dollar spent. we
get dollars worth of national
security. Let us spend a little of
this money in planning how to
spend the rest. This will pay us
rich dividends-in economy and
in safety and as an investment
In the future of America.