Evening star., 1951-12-16
By Sterling T. Green
Assccloted Press Stoff Writer

NO EA0dok VWCAo WhCluCus
Yet its legal effect was close
to zero. Contrary to widely held
belief, the declaration of emer-
gency did not bring into being
any of the major emergency
powers under which the mobiliza-
ton operates.
1t did bring into force 66 laws
which are imperative except in
time OF national emergency. But
the important powers-priorities
price-wage stabilization and the
like-had been provided in the
Defense Production Act, three
months earlier. Some were not
being used.
The White House declaration
was meant for shock-effect.
1t told the country that the
police action" in Korea had be-
come a threat to this country's
existence because - with Red
China's entry-it had exposed the
aggressive pattern behind North
Korea's reckless onslaught. In Mr..
Truman's words. the leaders of
Communism had revealed their
willingness to push the world
to the brink of a general war"
Had Further Meaning.
The declaration had a further
meaning, not divulged at the time.
1t meant that the Pentagon and
the White House finally had de-
cided-nearly six months after
TIE outbreak Of fighting In Korea
.-on the kind and size and speed
of the mobilization needed.
This ended the pickering be-
tween the advocates of about,
war-style mobilization, with en-
phasis on getting weapons fast.
and those who favored a broader
and more gradual buildup of the
Nations war-making potential
from the mines and steel mills
right through to finished weapons.
The latter plan entailed grave
risk if Russia should strike within
a year or so. But if Russia gave
us the time. it meant the country
could fight a more effective war
eventually and, in the meantime,
could avoid or at least minimize
the inf1ationary hazards, plant
shutdowns and widespread unem-
ployment that would occur if all
resources were hurled into a quick
buildup.
The second course was chosen by.
the Joint Chiefs of. Staff and the
National Security Council. The
latter is the top-level policy body
on national security, headed by
the President and made up of Cab
met level officials concerned with
defense matters at home and
abroad.
A three-year program was de-
veloped. running through 1858.
Schedules of minimum" security
needs were drawn up, in terms of
scheduled deliveries of tank, plane
and munitions production.
With this in hand, Mr.. Tru-
man issued his proclamation and,
on the same day, created the Of
flee of Defense Mobilization and
named Charles E. Wilson to head
1t. He gave Mr.. Wilson more au-
thority than was held by any in
dividual in World War II, short
of the President himself.
Mr.. Truman served notice, also,
that the voluntary attempt at
price and wage control would be
thrown overheard in favor of real
ceilings. On January 25, prices
and pay were frozen.
By that time living costs had
scared nearly 9 per cent since
Korea: subsequent to that time the
rise has been less than 2 per |
cent.
Some Goals Disclosed.
The President disclosed few of |
the goals of mobilization. One |
called for 3.5 million men under
arms, as against about l million |
then in uniform. That was
achieved by midsummer.
Another target-a flve-fold in
crease in warplane production
has not even been half reached,
according to the guarded informa-
tion given out. Tanks are behind
schedule but evidently not seri-
ously. The lags are enough, how
ever, to cause the Senate Prepar-
edness subcommittee to call for a
production car" in the Pentagon
to supervise procurement by all
three services.
But military spending has in
creased markedly. Defense outlays,
which represented about 8 per cent
of the country's total production
a year ago. now amount to about
IA per cent. A year hence they
may reach 18 or 20 per cent.
Under the stimulus OF defense.
the rate of national output has
risen from about $500 billion an
nually to $3.50 billion over the year.
The climb has leveled off in the
last six months, however. because
consumer goods industries have
been cut back about as fast as
defense plants have picked up.
OF the 66 emergency" laws
brought into effect by the declara-
ton. only one has played signif1-
cant part in this build-up. It per-
mits the armed forces to speed
procurement by awarding con-
tracts without advertising for BIDS.