Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-16
President Outlines
Unification Stand 10
Committee Heads

I0mmIffee Heads
President Truman yesterday
sent identical letters on unifca-
ton OF the armed forces, as fol-
LOUIS, to Chairman Thomas OF
the Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee, Chairman Walsh of the
Senate Naval Affairs Committee.
Chairman May OF the House Mil
itdry Affairs Committee and
Chairman Vtnson OF the House
Naval Affairs Committee:
One of the most important prob.
lens confronting our country today
is the establishment of definite
military policy.
In the solution of this problem,
consider 1t vital that we have 6
unified armed force for our nationa
defense.
At my request the Secretary Of
War and the Secretary of the Navy
have made a sincere effort to settle
the differences existing between the
services on this question. They have
made splendid progress.
They have reached an agreement
on eight important elements OF
unifcation. and with reference tc
the four upon which. there was not
full agreement, their differences are
not irreconcilable.
On May 81, 1916. the Secretary OF
War and the Secretary of the Navy
delivered report to me of the
results of their efforts. have replied
to them today, stating my position
on those points submitted to me for
decision.
I enclose herewith copy of the
report OF the Secretary of War and
the Secretary of the Navy, together
with a copy of my reply to them.
You will note that there are now
presented II basic principles upon
which the unification of the serv-
ices can be based. They are as
follows:
/. SINGLE MILITARY
DEPARTMENT.
There should be one department
Of national defense. 1t would be
under the control of the civilian
who would be a member of the
Cabinet. Each of the services would
be headed by civilian with the title
of Secretary" These secretaries
would be charged with the internal
administration within their own
services. They would not be mem
bers of the Cabinet. Each service
would retain its autonomy, subject
of course, to the authority and over
all control of the Secretary of Ma
tional Defense. 1t is recognized that
the services have different functions
and different organizations and fol-
these reasons the integrity of each
service should be retained. The
civilian secretaries of the services
would be members of the Council oil
! National Defense and in this capa.
city they would have the further
opportunity to represent theil
respective services to the fulles
extent.
2. THREE CO-ORDINATED
SERVICES.
There should be three co-ordi
mated services-the Army. Navy anc
Air Force. The three services SHOULD
be on a parity and should operat,
In a common purpose toward overall
efficiency of the national defens,
under the control and supervision
of the Secretary of National Defense
The secretaries of the three services
should be known as Secretary fo
the Army, Secretary for the Nav,
and Secretary for the Air Force.
g. AVIATION.
The Air Force shall have the re.
sponsibility for the development
procurement, maintenance and op
Grafton of the military air resource!
of the United States with the fol
lowing exceptions, in which reSpon.
sibility must be vested in the Navy
Cd Ship. carrier and Water-basec
aircraft essential to naval opera
ton, and aircraft of the Unitee
States Marine Corps
% Land-type aircraft necessary
for essential internal administration
and for air transport over route!
of sole interest to naval forces ane
where the requirements cannot bt
met by normal air transport facili.
ties.
80 Land-type aircraft necessary
for the training of personnel fol
the aforementioned purposes.
Land-based planes for naval re.
cennaissance. anti-submarine war.
fare and protection of shipping Car
and should be manned by Air Force
personnel. If the three services are
to work as a team there must bt
close cooperation, with interchange
of personnel and special training
for specific duties.
Within its proper sphere of oper.
alton, naval aviation must not be
restricted but must be given every
opportunity to develop its maximum
usefulness
4. UNITED STATES MARINE
CORPS.
There shall be maintained as {
constituent part of the naval serv
ice a balanced Fleet Marine Fore,
including its supporting air com
ponent to perform the following
functions:
% Service with the feet in thu
seizure or defense of advanced nava
bases or for the conduct of sucl
limited land operations as are es
sential to the prosecution of nava
campaign.
Cd To continue the development
of those aspects of amphibious OPP
erations which pertain to the tactics
technique and equipment employed
by the landing forces.
80 To provide attachments ant
organizations for service on armet
vessels of the Navy.
a. To provide security detach
ments for protection of naval prop
erty at naval stations and bases.
5. COUNCIL OF NATIONAL
DEFENSE.
To integrate our foreign and mill
stary policies and to enable the mill
tary services and other agencies 0
government to cooperate more eff
fectively in matters involving ou
national security. The membership