Evening star., 1951-07-06
We Dore Not SIocken'

In his second quarterly report to the Pres1-
dent, Charles E. Wilson, Director of Defense
Mobilization, has drawn an encouraging overall
picture of the progress being made in the rear
mament effort of the United States and the rest
of the free Western world. At the same time,
however, he has given voice to certain important
qualifications emphasizing Cd that that effort
Is still far from its peak, (2) that there is no
reason to be SNUG about it and 90 that it can
be dangerously undermined If possible bright
DEVELOPMENTS in Korea lull us into false sense
of security or a feeling that can afford to
relax in what we are doing to cope with the
threat of Red aggression.
On the encouraging side, according to Mr.
Wilson, one of the big facts is this: That we have
nearly reached the first of our key preparedness
enthusiastically equipped armed forces at a
strength of $500, 900 men, or more than twice the
fighting power we had year ago. Another Dig
fact is this: That within the past IL months we
have tripled the delivery rate of supplies equip
ment and facilities to our national military es-
tablishment-an establishment being formed
into the equivalent of "a Army divisions, Navy
of over 1l00 ships with two and one-third Ma
rine divisions and supporting elements, and an
Air Force building toward 95 air wings" Further
in Western Europe. progress along the same line
in terms of higher defense budgets, greater
NA~~>---
been substantial in every way"
But Mr.. Wilson'S SOLDERING qualifications
make clear that this generally reassuring situa-
ton does not justify complacency. To begin
with, we cannot be sure that our great defensive
effort although it is designed to deter aggres-
sion and prevent another all-out war, will sue
ceed in checkmating the men OF the Kremln
What we must reckon with Is the possibility that
at any moment they may embark on some new
adventure that would force us to make drastic
overnight revisions in our present operations
"and sacrifice much more OF our comforts ano
living standards to the demands OF nauonal
security" Moreover, wholly apart from that pos
sbility. an important point to be kept in mind
is that our rearmament program is not yet OUT
of the difficult "tooling-up" stage. Actually In
Mr. wilson's words, 'At least two years OF IN
tensive labor are ahead OF us In this Nauon
before we reach our present goals OF military
strength and productive power. The build-up OF
our Allies may require, In some instances al
even longer period"
Tn connection with all this, Mr. Wilson has
placed particularly strong emphasis on the
danger of infation-an imitation capable, in
its own way. of doing as much damage TO the
free world as a massive military attack. Owing
to such factors as a recent leveling on OF prices
and decline in consumer demand that mas le1G
numerous industries overstocked with durable
goods, many businessmen have come to feel that
this danger is not really serious and that there
fore there is no need for special controls. But
Mr.. Wilson has answered them with stern
warning to the effect that our defense expendl-
lures, which are now taking only 10 per cent OF
the national product, will take about Is per cent
by the end of this year and something like 20
Der cent in 1852. Accordingly, in his Judgment,
we can hardly hope to escape infiationary pres
sures demanding firm checks, including heavy
taxation.
Finally, in concluding note, Mr.. wilson
has appealed to all of us in the United States
and the West as a whole not to let down our
guard, no matter how successful the cease-hre
talks at Kaesong may prove to be. AS he has put
it. IF truce is reached in Korea. or even II
peace is fully restored in that country, new ag-
gressions are always possible anywhere along
the broad perimeter of the Soviet empire and
any of these could lead to global war. We dare
not slacken the pace of defense mobilization
until the strength of the free world is sufficient
to meet any attack" That is the counsel OF
wisdom We cannot afford to ignore 1t.
Al