Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-16
Merqer
Continued From First Page.

handling the air forces. The Navy
favored indignation within the Army
and Navy of their respective air
power.
1t said. however. that IF the
alternatives were three military de-
partments or one, the Navy would
prefer three departments.
The eight points on which the
disputants agreed covered the Coun-
Gil of National Defense. National
Security Resources Board, continu-
ance of the Joints Chiefs of Staff
omission Of the proposed single
military Chief of Station which
the Army gave way-Central Intel
ligence Unit, Procurement and Sup
ply, Research Agencies and Military
Education and Training.
Disagreement Held Sincere.
Our failure to achieve complete
unaninity is due to no reason other
than that our respective views on
the points of difference are as sim
cere as they are divergent" the Navy
and War Secretaries told Mr.. Tru-
man in summing up the result of
their joint deliberations.
The Presidents revamped pro-
gram clipaxes a chain of develop
nents that started about two
months ago when he bluntly accused
naval opponents of the merger of
lobbying against it.
Later on. Mr.. Truman advised
neWsmen that he had instructed the
heads of the two services to get to-
gether and find out the points on
which they disagreed, and those on
which there was agreement, and
give him report by May 81.
With the report in hand, the
President advised a news conference
that he would settle the differences
and that the rival forces would be
expected to abide by his decision
In arguing for the unifcation plan
with the three co-ordinated arms
functioning under secretaries, the
War Department told the President
only if there is unity of structure,
headed by an individual with power
of decision, can we achieve where
there is now inaction: concerted pol
icy where there is now disjointed
policy: and economy of manpower,
resources and money where there is
now waste of them all
Navy Outlines Attitude.
THE Navy favors unification but
In less drastic and extreme form
It believes that serious disadvantages
will result from combining the mill
tary services into one department
It would involve sacrifices of sound
administrative autonomy and essen
tial service morale"
Conceding the need for greater
Indignation, the Navy proposed that
the principles on which the agree
ment was had be used for a starting
point for legislation, and that any.
thing further await the results OBJ
tanned from these experiments.
Truman Plan Stalemated.
Advising the two departments Of
his decision on the moot points, the
President said:
AN analysis of your comments
- y discloses that the services art
not nearly so far apart in their at
titude toward these points as hae
been reported. 1t is my firm con
viction that the determination O.
these questions in the manner which
I present herein will result in
plan which Incorporates the bes
features offered by the respective
services"
The Presidents original plan ha
heen stalemated in Congress. II
the House, approximately half
dozen bills on the subject have beer
introduced without action. The Sen
ate Naval Affairs Committee hell
lengthy hearings, then let the mat
ter lie. The Senate Military Affair
committee held hearings, and il
April reported out a bill essential,
along the lines of the President
plan.
Stresses Work of Secretaries.
In asking the legislation, tn
President sent to the congressional
committees copies of the joint re
mort and said that the difference
are not irreconciliable."
Mr.. Truman amplif1ed that tn
three secretaries would be charge
with the internal administrator
within their own services"
"It is recognized that the service
have different functions and differ