Office of the Historian

SWNCC Files

The Secretary of War (Patterson) and the Secretary of Navy (Forrestal) to the Chairman of the State–War–Navy Coordinating Committee (Hilldring)

confidential
SWNCC 314
[Washington,] July 1, 1946.

Formulation of National Policy With Respect to Foreign Trade in Relation to National Security

1.
On 28 November 1945, the Joint Chiefs of Staff made recommendations to the War and Navy Departments that the subject of the export of critical matériel be studied with a view towards the establishment of a system of control that would prevent the diminishing of our own war potential or the increase of the war potential of possible enemies.
2.
A thorough study of the subject reveals the necessity for the formulation of a national policy that: will insure that critical matériel is conserved for our own use; prevent possible enemies from augmenting their war potential by virtue of our exports; and prevent the exportation of technological information and inventions to possible enemies.
3.
In order to implement such a program it is requested that the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee initiate early action to: (1) formulate and recommend to us means and methods of insuring proper consideration of military (national security) interest in the formulation of national policy with respect to foreign trade; (2) recommend means and methods of implementation of the national policy, including need for legislation; (3) recommend representation with the appropriate civilian agencies by the Army and Navy Munitions Board, which is being charged with the duty of presenting the military interest.
4.
It is also requested that your committee study the question of the export control of technological information and invention insofar as military interests require that such information or inventions not fall into the hands of possible enemies.
5.
Upon the completion of the studies detailed above, please prepare for our signatures a joint letter to the Secretary of State requesting his cooperative action in securing appropriate legislation covering the legal handling of the entire question of export control [Page 1179] of matériel, technological information and inventions insofar as the national security interests are concerned.
6.
Please forward your report to us via the Army and Navy Munitions Board, furnishing both the War and Navy Departments with advance copies thereof.
James Forrestal

The Secretary of the Navy
Robert P. Patterson

The Secretary of War