Eisenhower Library, White House Central files, Confidential file
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Defense Mobilization (Flemming) to the President
- Subject:
- Additional Criterion for Determining Long Term Mineral Stockpile Objectives
Since receipt of your directive to me of April 14, 1954,1 regarding the establishment of long term mineral stockpile objectives, we have been reviewing the stockpile objective to ascertain the affects of the criteria contained in your basic directive. In addition, with the assistance of our interdepartmental advisory committees, we are proceeding to officially establish long term objectives for the metals and minerals.
[Page 1222]My experience with the various assumptions that are involved in the calculation of the stockpile objectives has led me to the conclusion that a general “safety factor” should be included in our basic criteria, and I wish to suggest the adoption of the following additional criterion:
When it is determined that a material is strategic and critical and should be stockpiled under the Stock Piling Act, the long term stockpile objective in no case should be less than one year’s normal U.S. use of the material.
The adoption of this rule will, in certain few instances where present procedures would result in smaller objectives, provide sufficient material to meet any unforeseeable contingencies such as destruction of major ports, destruction or disruption of internal U.S. transportation, loss of key facilities through atomic attack, or development of new requirements by the Department of Defense or the Atomic Energy Commission.
A review of the metals and minerals presently being stockpiled indicates that only three would be subject to upward revision as follows:
| Material | Present Minimum Objective | One Year’s Normal Use |
| Antimony | 21,000 tons | 38,000 tons |
| Lead | 700,000 tons | 1,200,000 tons |
| Zinc | 740,000 tons | 1,100,000 tons |
Present criteria for determination of long term objectives result in relatively small objectives for these materials since the U.S. supply comes almost entirely from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico (all of which are considered readily accessible).
Adoption of the above long term objectives for antimony, lead, and zinc would leave room for future procurement of about the following quantities of materials:
| Antimony | 19,000 tons |
| Lead | 450,000 tons |
| Zinc | 310,000 tons |
P.S. This is the matter that I discussed previously with you in your office on Thursday. If you react favorably to the idea, I am [Page 1223] attaching to this memorandum a proposed memorandum from you to me.2