Evening star., 1944-09-19
|President0rders
Steps toC|ose
War Agencies
Calls for Program
To Put Government
On Peace Busis
BY ]. A. FOX.


tice today that war agencies
must get ready to liquidate.
Some steps along these lines may
be taken when the fighting ends in
Europe" the President said in a
letter to Budget Director Harold D.
Smith. He added, however, that
most Of the planning will probably
have to wait for execution until the
Japs have surrendered-and there is
no telling when that will happen"
MIR. Roosevelt told the budget d.
rector to survey the situation and
submit at the earliest possible date
a program for adjusting the execu-
tive branch Of the Government
from the needs of war to the needs
of peace'-a step which some off,
cials already have estimated will
mean q so per cent slash in the
present force of approximately s.
000, 900 men and women.
Three Principal Objectives.
Emphasizing the necessity for
careful planning to avoid disrup-
ton, the President said three princi-
pal objectives must be aimed at, as
follows:
/. Liquidation of war agencies and
the reassignment of such permanent
functions as they possess;
2. Reduction of Government per-
sonnel to a peace footing;
3. Simplif1cation and adaptation
Of. the administrative structure to
peacetime requirements.
In stressing the need for careful
planning in the task of demobiliza-
ton, Mr.. Roosevelt reiterated an
argument he advanced earlier this
month in a letter to the Denver
convention of the National Fedora
ton Of Federal Employees, when he
said . personnel cut was inescapa-
bic, but that 1t must be carried out
in such q manner that essential
services win not be hurt. He gave
no indication Of what he thought
might be done.
The Budget Bureau several weeks
ago told all agencies that estimates
for the next fiscal year should be
predicated on three bases: Suspen-
sion Of hostilities on one front; end
of the war in its entirety, and con-
tinuance in all sectors.
Text Of Letter.
The text of the Presidents letter
follows:
Total war has required a great
of Government activities,
agencies and personnel Our success
on the battle fronts all over the
world bears witness to the effective
ness Of our efforts.
Upon the termination of hostili-
ties, we must proceed with equal
vigor to liquidate war agencies and
reconvert the Government to peace.
Some steps along these lines may be
taken when the fighting ends in Eu-
rope. The transition from war to
peace should be carried forward
rapidly, but with minimum of dis
order and disruption. Only careful
planning can achieve this goal.
This is the time to do the plan
ming, although the war-even in
not over. Most of the
planning will probably have to wait
for execution until the Japs have
surrendered-and there is no way
Of telling when that will happen.
But the plans should be ready.
Asks Recommendations.
I'm order that / may most effec-
lively fulfill my responsibilities as
Chief Executive in the demobiliza-
ton period, and may present ap-
recommendations to Con-
gress on the reconversion of the
Government agencies, I am asking
you to re-examine the programs,
organization and stating of Govern
ment agencies, and submit to me at
the earliest possible date recon-
for adjusting the execu-
tive branch of the Government from
the needs Of war to the needs of
peace.
Such recommendations should
include plans for the liquidation of
war agencies and the reassignment
Of such permanent or continuing
(See AGENCTES pooe A-s0-