Evening star., 1948-12-30
ForrestaI's S Plea
For More Power
May Start Fight
Defense Head Warns
Of Hard Decisions
Ahead for Nation
By John A. Giles

possible new ngHI III congress
after a plea by Defense Secretary
Forrestal for greater power over
the Nations armed services.
Mr.. Forrestal's request for meas
ures to strengthen his control was
contained in report in which the
Defense Secretary also declared that
the United States must help ream
non- Communist Europe even though
the cost may necessitate hard de-
cisions by our people" The report,
issued last night, covered his first
IS months as defense chief.
Mr.. Forrestal did not say what
~hard decisions" he had in mind,
but plainly he meant the possibility
of higher taxes and more shortages
at home while American dollars are
poured into the wall being erected
against Russian Communist aggres-
sion
Urges Intent Be Made Plain.
"We must do all in our power to
re-create the confidence and hope of
Europe" he said. 90 This is
matter which will have to be dealt
with in decisive fashion by the
United States in the coming months.
- 1t does not follow that we have
to embark Immediately upon vast
program of military aid. but rather
that we show, by the beginning of
such a program in modest propor-
tions. that we intend to follow
through the actions involved in the
European Recovery Act"
His report was devoted largely to
q review of the military establish
ment under his direction, his diff
culties in settling constant pickering,
and his recommendations to the
White House for changes in the uni
fication law to bring about accord.
He said that he had found that
competition over money, contrasting
responsibilities of the Army, Navy
and Air Force, and unfamiliarity of
officers of one service with the work.
ings of another were the causes of
the controversies.
Asks Substitute Chief.
The creation of an Undersecretary
of Defense who would take over
automatically when the chief is
absent was one major recommen-
dation.
He saw great progress in
the construction of firm founda- |
ton for the future administration"
of the defense establishment, but |
added that Il would, be less than
candid, however. if I did not un-
derline the fact that there are
still great areas in which the view
points of the services have not
come together"
To bring about accord Mr.. For
restal, in addition to creating an
undersecretaryship, would:
l Give the Defense Secretary
statutory responsibility for exer-
cising direction, authority and con-
troll over the departments and
agencies"
The present statute provides that
it shall be the duty of the De-
fense Secretary to establish general
policies and programs" and to eXeT-
else general direction, authority
and control" over the three depart
ments. Mr.. Forrestal would delete
the word general" in both pas
sages and broaden his authority
in other related respects"
Previously Defeated.
At the 1947 session of Congress,
Representative Cole, Republican, of !
New York offered an amendment
to delete the word general in
the act, but the House refused to
accept his amendment MI. Forres-
tai now proposes that the same
amendment be offered IN the Dem
ocratic-controlled Congress conven-
ing next week
2. Eliminate the Presidents per-
sonal Chief of Staff from member
ship in the Joint Chiefs of Staff Or
ganization and designate a "respon-
sible head" for the joint chiefs Re-
move or raise the, ceiling of 100
officers on the size Of the joint staff /
3. Clarity the Defense Secretary's
authority with respect to personnel,
presumably to give him more au-
thority in selection.
4. Exclude the Secretaries Of the
Army, Navy and Air Force from
membership on the National Sc
curity Council. leaving the Defense
Secretary as the only military rep
resentative.
The list, which largely parallels
those previously set forth by the
Eberstadt Committee in its report
on the Hoover Commission on Gov |
ernmental Organization, is not
complete, Mr. Forrestal said, but
does indicate the general aspects
In which the act seems to me to
require strengthening
Boosts Reserve Affairs.
His report also contained his
memorandum to President Truman
Continued on Page A-3 Col 20