Evening star., 1949-03-06
tText of Truman Proposal for Revising Uncotion Act

Department Of Defense should be
made clear. Furthermore, the pres
ent limitations and restrictions
which are in appropriate to his
status as head Of an executive de-
partment should be removed. The
Secretary of Defense should be the
sole representative Of the Depart
ment Of Defense on the National
Security Council.
I am not recommending the
blanket transfer of all statutory
authority applicable to the depart
ments of the Army, the Navy and
the Air Force to the Secretary OF
Defense. Neither am I recommend
ing any change in the statutory
assignment of combatant functions
to the Army, Navy and Air Force.
I recommend, however, that the
Secretaries of the Army, the Navy
and the Air Force administer the
respective military departments
under the authority, direction and
control of the Secretary of Defense.
To meet these additional re-
sponsibilities, the Secretary of De-
fense needs strengthened civilian
and military assistance. This can
be provided by the creation of new
costs and by the conversion of
existing agencies Of the National
Military Establishment into staff
units for the Secretary. I recon-
mend that Congress provide an
Undersecretary of Defense and
three Assistant Secretaries Of De-
fense.
The duties now placed by statute
in the Munitions Board and the
Research and Development Board
should be recognized as responsible
tiles Of the Secretary Of Defense
The act should be amended to make
possible the flexible use Of both of
these agencies, and of The Joint
Chiefs Of Staff, as staf1 units for the
Secretary of Defense.
Proposal on Joint Chiefs.
Finally, I recommend that the
Congress provide for q chairman of
the Joint Chiefs Of Stafi, to take
precedence over all other 1>ilitary
personnel. and to be the principal
military adviser to the President
and the Secretary of Def ,nse, and
to perform such ether duties as
they may prescribe.
In my Judgment. these changes
will make possible effective organi-
zation and management of the De-
partment of Defense. They will
provide a responsible official at its
head. with strengthened civilian
and military assistance, to under
take the immense job of aiding the
President and the Congress in de-
termining defense needs and In
supervising the administration of
our defense activities.
These measures are essential to
continued and accelerated progress
toward uniflcation. I am convinced
that only through making steady
progress toward this goal can we
be assured Of serving our major
detectives, the most effective Or
ganization of our armed forces, a
full return on our defense dollar,
and strengthened civilian control.
urge the Congress to give prompt
consideration to these recommended
tions. From the standpoint of pres
ent and potential cost to the Nation,
there Is no more important area in
which to work for improved organi-
zation and operations. Action on
these recommendations will prove
beneficial to the Congress, the Am
.rican people. and the President by
better means Of assuring
defense needs and administering
the defense program. We should
seize this opportunity to strengthen
our defense organization which Is SO
vital to the security of this Nation
and the peace Of the world.