Evening star., 1945-12-19

partments and agencies whose poll
cies and programs have to be CO.
ordinated at the top level of the
executive branch. They are simpli-
fled as the number of these agencies
can be reduced.
Would Speed Agreement.
The consolidation of the War and
Navy Departments would greatly
facilitate the ease and speed with
which the armed forces and the
other departments could exchange
views and come to agreement on
matters OF common concern. 1t
would minimize the extent to which
ihterservice differences haves to be
discussed and settled by the civilian
leaders whose main concern should
be the more fundamental job of
building overall national policy.
4. We should provide the
strongest means for civilian con-
troll of the military.
Civilian control of the military
establishment-one OF the most fun
damental of our democratic con-
cepts-would be strengthened if the
President and the Congress had but
one cabinet member with clear and
primary responsibility for the exer-
else of that control. When the mill
tary establishment Is divided be-
tween two civilian secretaries, each
Is limited necessarily to a restricted
view OF the military establishment.
Consequently, on many fundamental
issues where the civilian point of
view should be controlling, the sec
retaries of the two departments are
cast in the role of partisans of their
respective services, and real civilian
control can be exercised by no one
except the President or the Con-
gress.
During and since the war. the
need for Joint action by the serv-
ices and for objective recommenda
tions on military matters has led
inevitably to increasing the au-
thority OF the only joint organiza- :
ton and the most nearly objective
organization that exists-the Joint
Chiefs of Staff. But the Joint Chiefs
OF Staff are strictly military body
Responsibility for civilian control
should be clearly fixed in a single
full-time civilian below the Presi-
dent. This requires a secretary for
the entire military establishment,
aided by a strong staff Of civilian
assistants.
No Basis for Fears.
There is no basis for the fear that
such an organization would lodge
too much power in a single individ-
ual-that the concentration of Sc
much military power would lead to
militarism. There Is no basis fol-
such a fear as long as the tradi-
tional policy of the United States
is followed that civilian, subject
to the President, the Congress anc
the will OF the people, be placed al
the head OF this department. The
safety of the democracy Of the
United States lies in the solid gooc
sense and unshakable conviction oi
the American people. They neet
have no fear that their democrati.
liberties will be imperiled so lonl
as they continue fulfilling theil
duties of citizenship.
S. We should organize to pro-
vide parity for air power.
Air power has been developed tl
a point where its responsibilities.
are equal to those OF land and ses
power, and its contribution to oul
strategic planning is as great. Ii
operation. air power receives it
separate assignment In the execu.
ton of an overall plan. These fact!
were finally recognized in this wal
in the organizational parity which
was granted to air power within
our principal unified commands.
Parity for air power can b
achieved in one department or il
three, but not in two. AS between
one department and three, the for
mer is infinitely to be preferred
The advantages of = single depart
ment are indeed much clearer thai
the alternative Is seen to be thre
departments rather than the pres
ent two. The existence of three de
partments would complicate ire
mendously every problem Of co-or
dination that now exists between
the War and Navy Departments
and between the services and tn
rest of the Government.
Three Heads Unwise.
The cabinet is not merely a col
lection OF executives administering
different governmental functions
1t Is a body whose combined judg
ment the President uses to formu
late the fundamental policies of thu
administration. In such a grouE
; which is designed to develop team
work, wisdom on all subjects tina
affect the political life of the coun
try, 1t would be inappropriate an
> unbalanced to have three member
representing three different instru
+. ments Of national defense.
The President, as Commander II
; Chief, should not personally hav
II kAo.~or