Evening star., 1945-12-19

~ - y ~ ~ j j
for our armed forces of which this
most powerful nation is capable.
Best Means of Peace.
I urge this as the best means of
keeping the peace.
No nation now doubts the good
will of the United States for the
maintenance of lasting peace in
the world. Our purpose is shown
by our efforts to establish an effec-
tive United Nations Organization.
But all nations-and particularly
those unfortunate nations which
have felt the heel of the Nazis, the
Fascists or the Japs-know that de-
sire for peace Is futile unless there
lis also enough strength ready and
willing to enforce that desire in any
emergency. Among the things that
have encouraged aggression and the
spread of war in the past have been
the unwillingness of the United
States realistically to face this fact,
olAN tlCA 1CAdooI AOl IACl dAAiAo
of peace before the forces of ag-
gression could gather in strength.
Now that our enemies have sur
rendered it has again become all
too apparent that portion of the
American people are anxious to
forget all about the war, and par
ticularly to forget all the unpleas-
ant factors which are required to
prevent future wars.
Whether we like it or not, We must
all recognize that the victory which
we have won has placed upon the
American people the continuing
burden of responsibility for world
leadership. The future peace of the
world will depend in large part upon
whether or not the United States
shows that it is really determined
to continue in its role as a leader
among nations. 1t will depend upon
whether or not the United States
is willing to maintain the physical
strength necessary to act as safe
guard against any future aggreSsor.
Together with the other United
Nations, we must be willing to make
the sacrifices necessary to protect
the world from future aggressive
warfare IN short, we must be pre-
pared to maintain in constant and
immediate readiness sufficient mill
tary strength to convince any flu
ture potential aggreSsOr that this
Nation, in it's determination for
lasting peace, means business.
Would Be a Grave Risk.
We would be taking a grave risk
with the national security if we did
not move now to overcome per-
manently the present imperfections
in our defense organization. How
ever great was the need for CO.
ordination and unified command in
World War II, it is sure to be great
er if there is any future aggression
against world peace. archaeological
developments have made the armed
services much more dependent upon
each other than ever before The
boundaries that once separated the
Army's battlefield from the Navy's
battlefield have been virtually
erased. If there is ever going to be
another global conflict, it is sure to
take place simultaneously on land
and sea and in the air, with weap-
ons of ever greater speed and range.
Our combat forces must work to-
gether in one team as they have
never been required to work to-
gether in the past.
We must assume, further, that
another war would strike much
more suddenly than the last, and
that it would strike directly at the
United States. We cannot expect to
be given the opportunity again to
experiment in organization and in
ways of teamwork while the fight
ing proceeds. True preparedness
now means preparedness not alone
| in armamentS and numbers of men,
but preparedness in organizatie
also. 1t means establishing in
peacetime the kind of military Or
ganization which will be able to
! HICCI tltC UcSl VI SuuuCI dJUdCk
quickly and without having to i'm
proviSe radical readjustment in
structure and habits.
The basic question is what or
ganization will provide the most ef-
fective employment of our military
resources in time of war and the
most effective means for maintain
ing peace. The manner in which
we make this transition in the size
composition and organizat ation of the
armed forces will determine the ef-
| ficiency and cost of our national
defense for many years to come.
/ Improvements have been made
since 194l by the President in the
organization of the War and Navy
i Departments, under the War Powers
Act. Unless the Congress acts be-
fore these powers lapse, these de-
partments will revert to their prewal
organizational status. This woulo
be grievous mistake.
! Not a Unified Command.
) The Joint Chiefs of Staff are not
!. a unified command. 1t is a com.
! mittee which must depend for its