Evening star., 1953-01-04
Mr.. Lovett on Defense Needs

Defense Secretary Lovett, In his semiannual
report to the President, has painted a reassuring
picture of what has been accomplished by the
United States and its allies in building up mill
tary strength against the threat of Communist
aggression. At the same time, however, he has
given voice to the SOLDERING reminder that the
threat will almost certainly continue for years
to come and that great deal will have to be
done Notwithstanding amendment of our
National Security Act-if our country and the
rest of the free world to establish reasonably
sure safeguards against the possibility OF an all
out attack by the Red totalitarianS
The gains already achieved are very sub
Stantial. According to Mr. Lovett, "As result
OF the work Of the past two years we can face the
future with increased confidence. Our armed
forces are well trained and competently led
They are being equipped with the most modern
weapons. American industry is geared to the
mass production of tanks, airplanes and other
heavy equipment. Holding position Of strength
we can pursue our policy of preventing another
world war with much greater chances of success
than heretofore" But this does not mean that
we and our allies are as yet out of the woods
Actually, long and difficult road remains to be
Travelled before adequate security can be reached,
and any wavering now, any backtracking could
be catastrophe.
Thus in Mr.. Lovett's words, "All the effort
and treasure poured into the rebuilding Of our
defense and the sacrifices of our armed forces in
Korea will be wasted If we fail to have the forth
tude and singleness of purpose to stay steady on
our course in search Of peace through strength"
So what we must do now-now that we have
made good headway-is see to 1t that we main
tain and improve our military structure" and
continue to move forward with our allies to a
- iAokl hat
men of the Kremlin, assuming that they are
sane, will not dare to unleash the kind of aggres-
sion that could precipitate another global war.
Accordingly, among other things, we must retain
selective service for an indefinite period or
replace it with program Of universal training,
and we must keep on making large-scale arms
expenditures even though we can look forward
to an appreciable cut in those expenditures
after 1854
In addition in the field of organization Mr..
Lovett has called for a revision of the National
Security Act which governs the operation of our
defense machinery. What is needed in his judg-
ment-and similar view has been expressed
by Dr. Vannevar Bush-are amendments to
eliminate certain inadequacies and interservice
conflicts within the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the
Munitions Board and the Research and Develop
ment Board whose Army, Navy and Air Force
members each serve as "both claimant and a
judge of his own requests" The amend
ments would be aimed at increasing efficiency,
drawing clearer lines of authority and allowing
for administrative fexibility of type calculated
to strengthen our entire military establishment
AS matters stand, in Mr.. Lovett's opinion, the
present law requires an organizational structure
that could not effectively meet the test of grave
emergency.
Now that he is preparing to return to private
life after rendering fine service to the Nation,
Mr.. Lovett will soon have no official power to
press for action on his report. But the new
Congress and General Eisenhowers incoming
Republican administration should give careful
consideration to his recommendations, notably
those bearing upon the National Security Act.
Charles E. Wilson, who is to succeed him as De-
fense Secretary, presumably has been well briefed
on the subject If Mr.. Lovett's views are as sound
and forward-looking as they seem, they ought GER
tainly to be put into effect as speedily as
possible.