711.00/3–2946
The Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Secretary of State 70
SWN–4096
Foreign Policy of the United States
[Extracts]
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. From a military point of view, the consolidation and development of the power of Russia is the greatest threat to the United States in the foreseeable future. While clashes of vital interest are unlikely to occur immediately, the expansion of Russia in the Far East may ultimately bring about serious conflict with United States policies directly, and its expansion to the west and south may involve clashes with Great Britain into which we might well be drawn. The “adoption of a firm and friendly attitude in our dealings with the Soviet Government” is strongly indorsed with, however, the emphasis upon “firmness”. Collaboration with the Soviet Union should stop short not only of compromise of principle but also of expansion of Russian influence in Europe and in the Far East. Support of nations threatened by such expansion should be extended, not only through the United Nations but through direct economic means if necessary. (Military support at present would be difficult if not impracticable.) In considering such support, however, the realities of [Page 1166] nations already definitely penetrated by Soviet influence should be recognized in order that a position of antagonism may not be unfruitfully assumed.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In conclusion the Joint Chiefs of Staff offer the following observations on U.S. foreign policy in general:
Reliance can not be placed upon the efficacy of the United Nations Organization to prevent all war. Many incipient disputes can no doubt be quenched, but power is lacking for, and procedure precludes, the arbitrary settlement of a major conflict of policy among major nations. In such case war may follow. So long as the United Nations Organization functions under its present charter, the security of the United States will by necessity require safeguards beyond those of that Organization.
Appreciating this fact, one of the fundamentals of national power and prestige must be borne in mind, namely the ability to back with force the policies and commitments undertaken by our government. Two world wars in which we have fought have brought about our participation in the conflict at a time when we were militarily incapable for many months thereafter of keeping pace with our political action, though a fortunate geographical position and the fact of our allies holding the enemy at bay have given us the time in which to gather our strength for the offensive.
In the future neither geography nor allies will render a nation immune from sudden and paralyzing attack should an aggressor arise to plague the peace of the world. Because of this, determination of United States foreign policy should continually give consideration to our immediate capabilities for supporting our policy by arms if the occasion should demand, rather than to our long term potential, which, owing to the length of time required for mobilization of the nation’s resources, might not be sufficient to avert disaster in another war.
In the final analysis the greatest single military factor in the security of the world is the absolute military security of the United States.
Brigadier General, U.S.A., Secretary
- This document was transmitted by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the State–War Navy Coordinating Committee as SM–5062 dated February 21. It was forwarded by SWNCC to the Secretary of State under the cover of SWN–4096, March 29. It consists of the comments of the JCS on pp. 26–106 of Department of State paper “Foreign Policy of the United States,” extracts from which are printed on pp. 1134–1139.↩