Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers, Whitman file

Memorandum for the Record by the President

top secret

I have just had a meeting (4:00 to 6:00 p.m.) with Secretary Dulles, Secretary Humphrey, and Secretary Wilson. Problem: How to provide necessary security and still reduce the Defense budget for ’55.

Statement by Secretary Dulles:

He believes that we should begin to withdraw ground troops from Korea. This for the reason that we should show confidence in our air and naval strength; and should avoid ground deployments in Asia. (If this were done, we could afford substantial reduction in Army active strength.) Dulles stated that a week or more ago General Hull recommended that we initiate, now, the withdrawal of American ground troops from Korea. (No one else at the conference knew anything about this recommendation.)

It was agreed that:

a.
In view of the above and the conviction that some of our service and support units in Europe could be somewhat skeletonized, the Army’s recommendation for 1,500,000 individuals in ’55 would not, in the absence of some marked change in the international situation, be approved.
b.
It was agreed that the dependence that we are placing on new weapons would justify completely some reduction in conventional forces—that is, both ground troops and certain parts of the Navy.

In any event, the conclusion of the conference was that we should move towards a reduction in personnel in the armed services, [Page 598] especially Army and possibly Navy. This may mean, very soon, some reduction of the actual numbers of divisions in Korea. In Europe and in the United States it was felt that we should, in all services, effect some savings in number of individuals, especially in overhead and supporting units. The reduction of divisions in Europe should be constantly studied; but the State Department is to explore matter with Allies.

D.D.E.