840.20/12–3148
The Secretary of Defense (Forrestal) to the Under Secretary of State (Lovett)
Dear Bob: I am forwarding herewith, on an informal basis at this time, a copy of a memorandum which has been submitted to me by the Joint Chiefs of Staff covering the subject of “Base Rights for the United States in return for Military Aid to Foreign Nations”.1 This memorandum suggests the adoption of a policy under which, in normal cases, the granting of military aid would be coupled with negotiations for consideration of United States base rights requirements.
From a military standpoint, the recommendations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are, in my opinion, completely sound. However, as they indicate, overriding political considerations may make the application of such a policy impracticable generally or in given instances. However, it seems to me that the political considerations when dealing with the matter of military aid, are very different from those which may be involved in handling economic aid. If the purpose of the North Atlantic Pact and other arrangements under which aid may be furnished is to develop the concept of collective security, it seems to me reasonable, at least as a general proposition, to couple the granting of such aid with the securing of reciprocal advantages which the recipient of the aid may be in a position to provide.
We have talked at length about the dependence of our strategic plans upon the acquisition of rights at certain bases at various parts of the world. You are only too familiar with the difficulties which have been encountered in efforts to obtain such rights. It therefore seems to me that we should not let this opportunity pass.
I have advised the Joint Chiefs of Staff in accordance with their request in the last paragraph of their memorandum that they should proceed to make the further detailed studies therein suggested. I believe that these studies in themselves will be of substantial assistance in determining the practicability of applying the policy which they recommend.
I welcome your own thoughts as to the political feasibility of proceeding along the lines suggested by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and will be glad to discuss this matter with you further at your convenience.
Sincerely yours,
- Memorandum signed by Leahy, dated December 21, 1948; for text, see volume i.↩