Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-02-01

be more than happy to join In
a fuG-dress investigation of
this whole stockpile situation
But he said 1t should be I'M
dertaken by the joint Senate
House Committee on Non-Es-
sential Government Expendi-
lures, headed by Senator Harry
F. Byrd, Democrat of Virginia
rather than the three member
Armed Services subcommittee
Senator Dirksen is a member
OF the Byrd committee. He
said the committee does moi
need any additional authority
from Congress to handle the
stockpiling inquiry.
does not need any additional
authority from Congress to
handle the stockpiling inquiry
Agrees With Dirksen
Senator SaltonStall Of Mas
sachusetts, chairman of the
Conference Of all Republican
Senators, sided with Dirksen
on the authority of the Byrd
committee to make the inquiry
Senator Symington has a
long background of experience
in the general field of strategic
materials stockpiling.
At the end of World War II
he was made chairman of the
Surplus Property Board that
had charge of disposing OF
surplus materials built up dur
ing the war.
During the Korean war in
1950-52, Senator Symington
was chairman of the National
Security Resources Board, con-
cerned with channeling needed
resources into that war effort
It was largely because of this
background, as we'll as his ex-
perience as Assistant Secretary
of War for Air and Secretary
of the Air Force, that MIR
Symington was made chairman
of the Stockpiling Subcommit-
tee of the Armed Services Com
mittee when he entered the
Senate in 1868.
There was some indication in
the Presidents remarks that
at least part Of the excessive
stockpile, might be due tt
changes in defense strategy
and technology that have al
tered requirements for strategic
materials.
In referring to a nearly $3.4
billion excess in the stockpile
now, he carefully said that il
the amount that the stock
pile exceeds emergency require.
ments "as presently deter.
mined" There was no specific
mention of a change in the
determination of emergency
requirements.
To Name Commission
But Mr.. Kennedy said hi
is appointing a commission "tc
make a detailed review of oul
stockpiling policies, program.
and goals, in the light Of
changed defense strategy anC
improved technology"
He disclosed that a detailed
check of the stockpile was
ordered last spring and sale
"our information to date has
convinced me that a thorough
investigation is warranted"
He added that "the cloak Of
secrecy which surrounded thi!
program may have been JUST.
fled originally to conceal oul
shortages, but this is no Longer
the case, and secrecy now i.
only an invitation to mis-.
management"
At another point, the Presi.
dent asserted that "the cole
facts on this matter must b.
opened to the public"
He said he has assured
Senator Symington that the
executive branch will eco.
operate fully with any investi.
cation" and make available tt
the subcommittee all the
material already discovered ir
the administration review.
Purpose of Program
The purpose of the stock.
piling program over the las
several years, Mr.. Kennedy ex'
planned, has been to store TO
future use those strategic
materials which might be es'
sential to the Nation in al
emergency.
In some cases, he said h
found the Government hat
acquired more than seven time
the amount of a material "tha
could possibly ue used" H
added:
For example, the value O
the aluminium in this stock
pile exceeds the amounts W
would need for three years il
the event of war by $347 mil
lion. The excess supply o
: nickel is $103 million"
Mr.. Kennedy said he is awar
of the intricate problems in
volved, including difficultie
experienced by certain do