Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-01
Logic of Economics
And Military Affairs

I have always firmly believed
that there is a great logic in
the conduct of military affairs.
There is an equally great logic
in economic affairs. If these
two logical disciplines can be
welded, it is then possible to
create a situation Of maximum
military strength within eco
nomic capacities.
If, on the other hand, these
two are allowed to proceed in
disregard one for the other,
you then create a situation
either Of doubtful military
strength. or of such precarious
economic strength that your
military position is in constant
jeopardy.
It has been the purpose of
this administration ever since
it took Office, finding itself con-
fronted with a crazy quilt of
promises. commitments. and
contracts, to bring American
military logic and American
economic logic into joint
strong harness.
No more glaring Illustration
of the lack of balance between
the military logic and the eco
nomic logic could possibly be
found than the situation which
existed when we took Office.
On the one hand, we found
our allies deploring our UNI
fulfilled defense promises. :" On
the other hand, we found
there was total carryover Of
$81 billion in appropriated
funds, largely committed. for
which cash must be provided
from revenues in future fiscal
years over and above the
normal cost of Government.
It's just as if the late admin
istration had gone to the store
and ordered $81 billions of
goods. which we've got pay for
as they're delivered in addition
to paying the regular house
hold running expenses.
AS you know, over the past
years have been involved in
the European end of defense
and therefore I think I know
all about paper divisions and
cardboard wings. For the last
three months, I have been
heavily involved in the Ameri-
can end Of defense, and day
after day have had to struggle
with the basic equation that
links the military safety of
this country and of the free
world with the ability of the
world to pay its bills and earn
a living.
More Definite Figures
To Become Available
This morning I told the
legislative leaders that already
we can see our way clear to
ask the Congress to appropri-
ate at least $8.5 billion less
new money for fiscal year 1854
than had been asked for by
the previous administration.
This is a preliminary figure
based on three months hard
work. The great bulk of it, Of
course, relates to security pro-
grams. More definite figures
will become available as APP
propriated requests are pre-
sented to the Congress during
the next few weeks.
You will note that I have
been talking about the new
appropriations for fiscal 1854.
Actual cash savings for 1854
will be determined only as
Congress acts on the appro-
priation requests.
These savings will not re-
duce the effective military
strength we will deliver to
ourselves and our allies during
fiscal 1854. Deliveries actu-
ally will be speeded up through
the reduction of lead-time and
concentration on producing
those items which make the
most military sense for the i'm
mediate future.
Establishing the most effec-
tive relationship between de-
Tense requirements and eco
nomic capability in these days
is probably the most complex
and ramif1ed problem to be
faced by any government.
Practically every one con-
cerned with the problem can
with some justification be q
special pleader.
But I am sure that what
the overwhelming majority Of
Americans want to believe, Is
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