Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, National Security Affairs, Volume II, Part 1

S/S–NSC files, lot 63 D 351, NSC 114 Series

Memorandum to the National Security Council by the Executive Secretary (Lay)¹

secret

Washington, June 30, 1952.

• Subject:
• United States Objectives and Programs for National Security

References:

A.

NSC 114 and NSC 68 Series²

B.

Memo for NSC from Executive Secretary, subject, “United States Programs for National Security”, dated October 18, 1951³

C.

NSC Action No. 575⁴

The enclosed memorandum by the President which sets forth his desires regarding the functions of the National Security Council in relationship to the determination of the programs and budget for Fiscal Year 1954, is circulated herewith for the information of the National Security Council.

The reports on the status of the national security programs as of June 30, 1952, which are due on August 1, have been requested of the respective departments and agencies responsible for those programs. The reappraisal of the objectives and policies set forth in the NSC 68 and NSC 114 series is being prepared by the Senior NSC Staff, pursuant to NSC Action No. 575–c, for early consideration by the Council.

In the light of these two reports, the Senior NSC Staff will prepare a draft report for Council consideration by October 1, pursuant to the third paragraph of the enclosed memorandum.⁵

James S. Lay, Jr.

[Enclosure]

Memorandum by the President to the Secretary of Defense⁶

secret

Washington, June 28, 1952.

It is my desire that final determination of the programs and budget for fiscal year 1954 be made by December 1. In order that the analysis of the Executive Office of the President, in coordination and consultation with the agencies concerned, can be accomplished by that date, it will be necessary for the Secretary of Defense to submit his program and estimates for fiscal year 1954 to the Director of the Budget no later than November 1. This in turn will require strict adherence to the date of September 2 which the Secretary of Defense has established as the date for the budget submissions to his office by the Military Services.

The Secretary of Defense has requested that the Military Services base their budgetary programs and estimates on present approved strength. Every effort should be made to meet commitments and missions within this total strength.

To assist in arriving at carefully considered budget decisions I am asking the National Security Council to complete by October 1 (1) a review of presently approved national security programs designed to achieve United States objectives based upon the report scheduled for completion August 1 on the status of these programs, and (2) the desirability of projecting these programs for fiscal year 1954 in relation to the NSC’s reappraisal of the objectives and policies of NSC 68 and NSC 114.

The Director for Mutual Security has already established the arrangements through which, in consultation with the Director of the Budget and with the other agencies concerned, he can assemble within the time called for by OEEC and NATO schedules, sufficient information regarding the scope and timing of the U.S. defense and foreign aid effort to assist tentative planning, subject to final determination of U.S. programs for submission to the Congress.

The Director for Mutual Security should submit his programs and estimates for the fiscal year 1954 to the Director of the Budget no later than October 1.

Following the review of these budgets within the Executive Office of the President, in coordination and consultation with the agencies concerned and in light of the review by the NSC, I intend to meet just prior to December 1 with the NSC for consideration and determination of any remaining principal problems and issues involved in the projection of programs and budget for fiscal year 1954.

Harry S. Truman

1. Copies to the Secretaries of the Treasury and of Commerce, the Attorney General, the Acting Director of Defense Mobilization, the Federal Civil Defense Administrator, the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, and the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers.
2. For documentation on the NSC 68 Series, see Foreign Relations, 1950, vol. i, pp. 126 ff.; for documentation on the NSC 114 Series as it developed during 1951, see ibid., 1951, vol. i, pp. 1 ff.
3. For text, see ibid., p. 237.
4. See footnote 1, p. 5.
5. See the editorial note, infra.
6. Also sent to the Director for Mutual Security, Director of the Bureau of the Budget, and the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council.