Evening star., 1951-04-30
Text of Defense Budget Request

Ia general war to get what they
want.
We are building our military
strength in the way best calcu-
lated to meet the military threat
that confronts us.
Soviet Is Main Threat.
The major element In this
threat is the military strength
and military production Of the
Soviet Union. The armed forces
of the Soviet Union today fal
exceed any reasonable defense re-
|quirements. It's economy is
harnessed to war production.
If the Soviet Union chooses te
unleash a general war. the free
world must be in a position tc
stop the attack and strike back
decisively and at once at the seats
of Soviet power. We believe that
the best path to peace is through
building combined defenses for
the free world sufficiently power
full to insure disaster for the ag-
gressors if they launch a new
world war.
Our military program must be
aimed at this central problem.
We want to keep the conflict
in Korea from spreading. if pos
sihle, because we are trying to
stop aggression without starting
a third world war. Furthermore,
we need time to prepare our de-
fenses to meet a general war il
it is thrust upon us.
Supplies and equipment are
now flowing to Korea in abundant
More supplies for Ko-
rea are in the pipeline. We will
continue to send to Korea the
arms that are needed by our
forces to repel aggression In that
area.
The major emphasis Of this
budget estimate is upon building
up our armed forces and our pro-
ductive capacity toward the level
of preparedness necessary in the
event of all-out war. In addition
to maintaining our forces on ac-
tive duty. funds are provided for
a war reserve of supplies and
equipment and for the creation
of a mobilization base-including
reserve forces, military installa-
tionS, and industrial capacity-to
enable us to mobilize quickly, if
necessary, for an about war ef-
fort. At the same time, the level
of preparedness which this budget
is designed to create is one which
is well within our ability to main
tain for many years, If necessary
Planning Must Remain Flexible.
This budget is based on our
estimate at this time of the
military build-up requires to meet
our security objectvies. But our
planning must remain flexible.
In the event of change in the
international situation, the pres
ent program may have to be
substantially modified.
The funds I am recommending
today will finance the following
elements Of our armed strength.
In the last 10 months, we have
more than doubled the active
strength Of our armed forces.
During the fiscal year 1852 we
will reach our present goal Of
about 3.5 million men and women.
These forces will steadily increase
in combat readiness as those now
in training status are assigned to
combat units.
For the Army. these funds will
equip and maintain Is divisions
plus separate combat and sup
porting. units. The Navy, under
these recommendation, will main
tain an active feet of 1,161 ships
The Marine Corps will maintain
two and one third divisions and
other supporting units. The Ali
Force win continue to build to-
ward 95 air wings.
In addition to these forces on
active duty, about 2 million men
and women will be in the Military
Reserve and ROTC programs and
the National Guard establish
The value of the reserve
forces has been proved again in
recent months, as $4,000 reserves
have been called to active duty.