MSA–FOA Director’s files, FRC 56 A 632, box 5, “Defense Department”
The Director of Foreign Operations (Stassen) to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Hensel)
Dear Struve: Confirming our luncheon discussion, it is my suggestion that we proceed under the President’s Executive Order as now drafted1 to implement the Mutual Security Program for Fiscal Year 1955.
May I assure you that I have no intention under my powers as coordinator to endeavor to “control” or “supervise” the activities of the Department of Defense in carrying out their responsibilities in the program.
It is necessary, however, that the country programs be approved by the Director of the Foreign Operations Administration as a part of the coordination function, and in order to give this approval, a reasonable amount of the detailed information is required which I believe can be furnished without difficulty from the regular information you assemble for your own purposes in the Department of Defense.
It is likewise necessary, when a special question of implementation of some phase of the President’s program arises, to then ask for additional detail in order to determine whether we can reach agreement or whether it is necessary to refer the matter to the [Page 747] President for his supervising decision and control. The necessity for asking for detailed information on 105 and 155 millimeter howitzers in 1953 was an example of this kind of situation. As you know, by reason of our detailed requests and follow up, this question was resolved without Presidential intervention.
I am further agreeable that as the fiscal year proceeds, if at any point you feel that the Foreign Operations Administration is asking for information that they should not request, or is taking a position on an issue which represents “control” or “supervision” rather than “coordination,” you raise it directly with me, and you and I will endeavor promptly to resolve it.
I am confident that the President’s draft Executive Order does correctly state the basic responsibilities and authorities, and that by actual conduct under it we can establish a sound interpretation and carry out a harmonious relationship in the interests of United States objectives.
It is my view that the reserve which we are setting up will eliminate the re-programming problem which has caused difficulty in the past.
It is also my hope that a method of greater flexibility, through either setting up a “requirements program” on a long range basis and a “hard core procurement program” on a fiscal year basis, would further facilitate effective operations of the President’s program. The current NSC study of the priority methods may help in this respect.
Thank you for your courteous attention to these matters. I look forward to working with you during the year.
Sincerely yours,