Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-16
Patterson, ForrestoI Report
On Points of Unity PROPOSAL

IN POIntS OF UT
Tert OF the joint letter on Army
and Navy unitication sent to
President Truman BY Secretary
OF War Patterson and Secretary
OF the Navy ForreStal:
Pursuant to your instructions, we
have reviewed the major elements
involved in establishing greater
measure of unification among our
national security organizations, with
a view to defining those matters
upon which we agree and those
upon which we differ. While we
regret our inability to bridge COM
pletely the gap between us. we are
pleased to be able to report con-
siderable area of agreement. Sim
cere efforts to expand it we're made
by both of us.
For your convenience, we outline
below those matters upon which
agreement exists and those upon
which we are unable to agree. The
order of presentation is not intended
TO indicate the relative Importance
of the various items.
Agreement exists on the follow
ing matters:
l. COUNCIL OF COMMON
DEFENSE.
To inteerate our foreign and
military policies and to enable the
military services and other agencies
of government to cooperate more
effectively in matters involving our
national security. The membership
of this council should consist of the
Secretary of State. the civilian head
of the military establishment if
there be a single military depart
menD, the civilian heads of the
military services, and the chairman
of the National Security Resources
Board, referred to below.
2. NATIONAL SECURITY
RESOURCES BOARD.
To establish, and keep up to date.
policies and programs for the maxi
mum use of the Nations resources
in support of our national security.
1t should operate under the council
and be composed of representatives
of the military services and of other
appropriate agencies.
3. THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF.
To formulate strategic plans, to
assign logistic responsibilities to the
services in support thereof, to in
tegrate the military programs, to
make communications for integra-
ton of the military budget. and to
provide for the strategic direction
Of the United States military forces.
4 NO SINGLE MILITARY CHIEF
OF STAFF.
In the opinion of the War De-
partment, the military establish
ment should contain a single mill
tary Chief of Staff. who would serve
as principal military adviser. avail
able to offer advice when differences
of opinion arise among the military
heads of the several services. The
Navy feels that the Joint Chiefs of
Staff should be the highest source
of military advice. The War De-
partment is willing to omit the fea-
ture of a single Chief of Staff.
s. CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
AGENCY.
Tocompile, analyze, and evaluate
information gathered by various
Government agencies, including the
military, and to furnish such infor-
nation to the National Security
Council and to other Government
agencies entitled thereto. 1t should
operate under the council. An Or
ganization along these lines, estab-
lished by executive order, already
exists.
6. PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY
There should be an agency to
prevent wasteful competition in the
field of military supply and procure
ment through Joint planning and
coordination of procurement, pro-
duction and distribution. If there
should be a single military depart
ment, this agency should be within
the department.
7. RESEARCH AGENCIES.
There should be an agency to CO.
ordinate the scientific research and
development of the military services.
If there should be single military
department, this agency should be
within the department. The ex-
istence of such an agency would
not remove the need for an over
all Central Research Agency.
8. MILITARY EDUCATION AND
TRAINING.
There should be an agency to
review periodically the several sys-
TENS of education and training of
personnel of the military services
and to adjust them into an inte-
grated program. II there should be
a single military department, this
agency should be within the depart