Evening star., 1953-01-08
|Lovett Urges
Revision for
Joint Chiefs
Agency Too Rigid,
Retiring Secretary
ellis House Unit
Rv Pnhape v Mill
By Robert K. Walsh


possible abolition of the NUM-
tions Board were discussed by
Secretary of Defense Lovett and
the House Armed Services Com
mittee at closed session today,
The committe later gave out
the text of long letter in which
Mr.. Lovett several weeks ago
gave President Truman his views
on strengthening the admins
trative and operational policies
Of the Defense Department.
The closed session today also
spent considerable time dis
cussing the "political-military
aspects of the international Sit
uation," and the budget esti-
mates for military programs.
Bradley to Testify.
Gen. Omar Bradley, chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who
accompanied Secretary Lovett,
will testify at a similar closed
meeting tomorrow.
Mr.. Lovett's letter to the Presi-
dent listed in detail not only the
Defense Secretary's own opinion
on the strength or weakness of
his department, but also Outlined
possible remedies recommended
by others.
In connection with the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, he commented
that some of its shortcomings are
equally applicable to the NUM-
tions Board and to the Research
and Development Board.
"The weaknesses" Secretary
Lovett stated, "stem from ezces-
sively rigid statutory prescrip-
tions of functions, rigid statutory
composition which makes the
agency, in effect, an inter-de-
partmental committee, and the
requirements of the law that
each agency perform functions
inappropriate, if not actually i'm
possible, for an inter-depart-
mental committee to perform ef-
ficiently and eXpeditiously"
Not Adequate, He Says.
Secretary Lovett explained
that the setup of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff involves the striking of
a proper balance between civilian
and military control. He de-
clared he does not consider the
present organization adequate.
He added, however, that the
Joint Chiefs of Staff had oper-
ated well, principally because Of
the high caliber of it's present
members and of their conviction
that civil control is essential in
this Government.
by their very makeup" Sec
retary Lovett continued" it is
extremely difficult for the Joint
Chiefs of Staff to maintain a
broad nom service point of view.
Since they wear two hats-one
as chief of the armed service and
the other as member of the
Joint ChiefS-it is difficult for
them to detach themselves from
the hopes and ambitions of their
own service witrout having their
own staff feel that they are be-
ing let down by their chief.
THE maintenance of an i'm
partial, non-partisan position
becomes increasingly difficult in
times of shortage of either men,
money or material"
Professional Appraisal Slated.
The committee said Gen.
Braley would supplement the
Secretary's testimony with the
Joint Chiefs of Staff's profess
sional appraisal of the strategic,
tactical and other strictly mill
tary problems of the armed
forces"
The brieflng by Secretary
Lovett, who leaves the defense
post January 20, covered the
present condition of the armed
forces, the continuing programs
of the various branches, and the
defense picture from the ma
tional and intentional stand
points, the committee stated.
"He followed the pattern es-
tablished for such presentations
in previous years." the commit
tee said. "He spent some time
on the political-military aspects
of the international situation in
general, with specific emphasis
on the role of the Defense De-
partment and the armed forces
therein, the present stage of mo-
biliZation in the United States
and manpower problems of the
department."