Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-07


The recurring political talk
about possible early ending of
the draft is. I believe, hurttul
to Americas security interests
throughout the world.
All America longs for a peace
ful world based on Justice in
which the need for great arma-
ments will no longer exist. But
the cause of world peace and of
confidence and tranquility at
home is not furthered by sugges-
tons. the effect of which would
be greatly to weaken our de-
lenses.
The power of the United States
is mainly what holds the world
from general war, as we move
continuously towards the OBJ
jective OF all true Americans:
A Just and enduring peace.
We must not be deceived when
Communist power adopts a new
and smiling tactic. There is
no change IN its fixed determina-
ton to dominate the world.
This administration intends
to protect the freedom of our
people with national security
establishment Of adequate
strength and appropriate COM
position.
Feasts and Famines Recalled
For twenty years or more our
Government alternated between
costly peaks in years of military
crisis and starving valleys in
years Of apparent calm. Twice
in this generation relaxations of
Americas military strength have
been followed by costly wars.
Now. since 1853, we have once
more gained freedom from armed
conflict. We must not let down
our guard again. We must not
by weakness invite another war
No man can foretell the dura-
ton of this need; no matter how
earnestly we strive for peace
based upon mutual confidence,
the circumstances of today
world require strength to avoid
war
Therefore this administration S
program for national security
provides for enduring and sup
portable military strength. To-
day the United States has about
2.8 million men in uniform. For
tan armed force in excess of l s.
million men. experience shows
that selectiye service is indis-
pensable. The draft does more
than fill up our armed strength
by calling men into service. The
very existence of the draft law
so stimulates voluntary enlist
ment that, for some Of the serv-
ices. draft calls are reduced or
nonexistent.
Number of Men Reduced
The constant effort in the
Defense Department is to reduce
the number of men in service,
without damaging the Nations
security. Such reduction cannot
be achieved merely by tamper-
ing with the draft law.
The first requirement is to
take every advantage Of new ad-
vances in the technology OF
modern arms. That is what this
administration has done and is
doing. We use rapid increases
in flrepower and in the speed OF
its delivery to replace numbers
of men. We cut the strength
iof administrative activities in
favor of combat duties. We in
corporate the whole family oil
guided missiles and atomic weap-
ons in our military planning anc
overall defense. In this way, We
have produced the finest ano
most powerful military forces
in our peacetime history.
Actually. since the close Of
the Korean war. we have re.
duced military manpower by q
per 10000 men. We have
also returned 10000 civilians
employed by the military to civil
ian work.
For such reasons we have beer
able to reduce selective service
calls from the $4,000 a veal
rate when we first took Office tc
$4,000 in the current year.
Choices of Service
This administration has es.
tablshed many new choices OF
military and reserve service
With all of these choices, ne
young man has to wait for the
draft to plan his future. We dc