Evening star., 1950-06-11
Defense Plan Is Racing Against Time
Continued From Page C-1)

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Continued From Page CID
terchange of goods between the
participating nations.
(The Military Production and
Supply Board, headed by NUM-
tions Board Chairman Howard,
determines what items can be
transferred, ranging from fighting
ships to rifles.
cat present most of the inter-
change is of American items to
Western Europe. II is planned
that there will eventually be
transfers Of munitions between
the European countries them
selves.)
@. What effect will new weap-
ons have on the military forces
of individual nations?
A. First things come first. Right
now, our greatest urgency is the
firm establishment Of sufficient
forces armed with the conven-
tional weapons of the Army, the
Air Force and the Navy with
which we are all familiar. These
forces, with these weapons, must
be the basis of any sound security
pattern. - 49,
Budget Outlook '1 ''
New weapons should be plan
ned, furnished and utilized As
quickly as they At the pattern of
defense. II the collective prin-
ciple really works, it would no
longer be necessary for every ma
tion to have a complete program
in every type Of new development.
There would be Standardization of
equipment. and each nation would
furnish what it is best fit to pro-
duce.
Q. Would military budgets of all
nations be reduced under this
collective plan?
A. Military budgets of all men,
Der nations may probably have to
be increased for awhile until we
can establish the plan. In four
or five years. however, If the sit
uation does not grow worse, the
collective defense strategy should
lead to collective economy in de-
tense costs.
cannot give you the figures at
this time because they are FIRST
estimates Of q boldly drawn blue
print" But indications are that
the total bill is not beyond the
combined economic capabilities of
the participating countries. In
general, in view Of the threaten
ing attitude Of the Soviet Union,
and the actual lack of available
forces. equipment and materiel, it
seems unreasonable to expect a
general reduction in military
budgets at this time.
@. If an allied chiefs of staff
organization will eventually be
necessary, how would it operate?
A. The type of command or
ganization which might eventually
evolve Is a matter Of conjecture,
for 1t is too early to consider an
overall allied chiefs of staff or
ganization. Let's first get some
thing to command.
An organization to check up on
the readiness of the Atlantic
treaty forces, and to command in
case OF war, seems to be a logical
development. We have. however, :,
not reached that stage at the
present time.
Each region - which must be
organized for defense In its own
area-will probably develop the
command and operations staff be-
fore one is established for the
whole treaty organization.
IntonsibIe Factors
Eventually, If an overall COM
mand and staff organization,
evolves, it will probably monitor
plans and forces In almost the
same manner that the Standing
Group co-ordinates the regional
plans for the military committee
today.
@. Assuming the collective de-
fense organization becomes an
effective working unit. how long
before the power of Western Eu-
rope would be 50 impressive that
Russia and its satellites would
not dare attack?
A. The way your question is
phrased, believe that no man
could answer it. Certainly we
shall never know the day when
a power-controlled dictatorship
will mot dare attack" For with
out the saving influence of the
freely expressed opinion of its
people. q dictatorship may dare
anything.
To answer the question of "how
long," though, I can hardly see
how anybody knows. There are sol
many intangible considerations.
It win depend on how much effort
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