Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-02-15
Text of Marshall Statement
Continued From First Page.)

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resented the United States. Fur
ther, the standing group consist
ing of one representative from the
United Kingdom, one from
France, and one from the United
States-Gen. Bradley represent
| ing this country-has been in al
most daily session.
Out of all of these meetings
has emerged, as Congress eX-
pressly stipulated, a plan for the
integrated defense of the North
Atlantic Area-a plan which will
succeed or will fail, depending
upon two fundamental factors:
First, the support which it re-
ceives from this country and the
other nations associated with us;
and second, the ability with which
it is carried out by Gen., Eisen-
hover and the staff he is now as
Sembling. Regarding the SECOND
point, I am sure i am right in
the belief that none of you have
any miSgivingS. 1t is the first
point to which your deliberations
here appear to be addressed.
Please permit me to state the
issue as I see it, in rather diff
ferent form. I assume that no
one will differ from my belief that
the United States will be safer
that is. more secure-if govern
ments friendly to the United
States are in power throughout
the North Atlantic community.
If this is correct, the question
then resolves itself into the prob
lem of how the nations of the
North Atlantic community can
best protect their independence.
This is the problem to which the
North Atlantic treaty was adj
dressed and it is the problem to
which all of our discussions under
that treaty have been addressed.
In my opinion, the course out
lined by our planning is the logical
one. We are building up in the
United States and in each of the
nations of the North Atlantic
community stronger armed forces.
We are not building up these
stronger forces for any aggressive
purpose, but in order to enable us
to defend ourselves if we should
be attacked. Also our aim is pri-
marily to deter aggression if that
be possible and to defeat agrees
sion if, in spite of all our efforts,
the actions of the Soviet Union or
it's satellites should precipitate an
other world war.
Fundamental to all Of our eff
forts in this regard is the imme-
date start toward the creation in
Western Europe of strong and in
ltegrated forces-land, sea and air
in such proportions to one an
other as appears reasonable and
practicable.
Minor Portion Of Forces.
AS Gen. Eisenhower pointed out
in his recent testimony here. the
United States forces will constitute
only a minor portion of these pro-
posed integrated forces-the ma
jor portion being furnished by the
Western European nations. This
is particularly true in the matter
of ground forces. Because of the
great amount of discussion which
has been centered on the subject
of ground forces, I have obtained
the express permission of the
President to discuss with you the
specific strength of the ground
forces which the United States
has planned to maintain in Eu-
rope in the present emergency.
take this step reluctantly be-
cause of the security considera-
ticnS involved-but have reached
the conclusion that there is q
greater peril to our security
through weakening the morale Of
our Allies by debate based upon
uncertainties, than there can pos
sibly be through the public dis
closure of our planned strength
figures.
To be specific, the Joint Chiefs
of Staff have recommended to me
and I have so recommended tt
the President-and the President
has approved-a policy with re-
spect to our forces in Europe
which looks to the maintenance
by us, in Europe, of approximately
six divisions of ground forces.
We already have there, on occu.
patton duty, about two division!
of ground forces. Our plans
based on the recommendation Of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, there
fore contemplate sending foul
additional divisions to Europe.
Big Morale Contribution.
i While this number does not ap.
pear to represent in pure fighting
power large contribution to tht
immediate defensive strength O.
Western Europe i. it does represen
a small Army unit of high eff,
cheney and we believe tremen'
dous morale contribution to the
effectiveness and build up of the
projected ground forces the NORTH
Atlantic treaty nations are under.
taking to develop under Gen
Eisenhower direction and com.
Inland.
AS President Truman pointed
out in his announcement or
September 8. 1850, 1.-THE basic ele'