Evening star., 1953-10-11

of the National Security Coun-
Gil Tuesday morning, with the
Chief Executive presiding, will be
the first decision in the long
process of laying out a program
that will be completed on Capt.
tol Hill probably late next year.
The council usually meets later
in the week. But, as an official
explained, "the meetings must
be scheduled to suit the Presi-
dent" Gen. Eisenhower plans to
be out of the city most of the
latter part of the week.
The whole budget process-and
particularly the huge defense
outlay-has been delayed for
several months pending COM
pletion of secret studies on which
the President and his chief ad-
visers will make their decisions.
"Week of Decisions"
The various pieces now must be
fitted together in what one Of
fetal called a week of decision"
Those pieces include:
/. The Joint Chiefs of Staff
recommendations on the size and
shape of the armed forces. Re-
ports are that the top military
planners have recommended no
significant change in the 3.5
million men and women now in
uniform. Their report to Defense
Secretary. Wilson also is said to
call for an Army and Navy of
about present size and in increase
in the Air Force goal of FROM
120 to 127 wings. Mr.. Wilson has
said I'VE think if we get the
military spending program under
$40 billion we are going to en-
danger the country" This is a
little more than So billion below
current spending and is by far
the largest slice of the national
budget.
2. The Treasury Departments
estimate of Federal income and
it's tax recommendations. Gen
Eisenhower at his news confer
ence last Thursday was chary
about discussing either of these
points. Pointing out that the
whole tax program was being
worked out by the Treasury in
conferences with congressional
leaders, he promised what he
termed the best tax program pos
sible.
Silent on Budget.
3. What the administration
plans to do about a balanced
budget, long cherished by Re-
publican leaders. 1t is tied in
closely with the tax program, of
course. While saying a balanced
budget always would remain his
administrations goal, Gen. Eisen-
hover would pick no specific date
for it's accomplishment. It is a
question of where the Importance
of such budget comes in, he
said, and added he would not
say it would be balanced on June
or July l, 1855.
4. The debt limit. Congress at
its last session refused request
to increase it above $275 billion
and the debt is now approaching
that figure.
S. Atomic and hydrogen bomb
developments. There had been
a welter of contradictory state
ments on Russian capabilities in
this field until the President
banned such talk. But he also
admitted the Soviet Union has
a stockpile of conventional atom
weapons and the capability to
launch an atomic attack on
this country.
Foreign Aid Discussed.
6. Foreign aid. Gen. Alfred M.
Gruenther, Supreme Allied Com
mander in Europe, was in the
city late in the week and is said
to have discussed this program
with the President.
Once the President has de-
cided on the broad outline of his
program, the details must be
worked out by the several de-
partments and agencies.
The principal department in
volved is the huge defense estab-
lishment and the Pentagon was
standing by yesterday to begin
grinding it out. That work
already is running two month;
behind usual schedule. 1t now
is believed Gen. Eisenhower:
budget message in January viii
carry only a one-line estimate
of military spending and thai
the detailed plans and juStifi'
cations will come later, perhaps
in February.