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

PPS files, lot 64 D 563, “Review of NSC 68 & 114”

Memorandum by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Secretary of Defense (Lovett)¹

top secret

Washington, 29 August 1952.

• Subject:
• Reappraisal of U.S. Objectives and Strategy for National Security and Annex Thereto.²

1. This memorandum is in response to your memorandum, subject as above, dated 19 August 1952,³ in which you requested the comments and recommendations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with respect to NSC 135/1, a draft statement of policy by the National Security Council Staff on the above subject.

2. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are generally in accord with the proposed policy on Reappraisal of U.S. Objectives and Strategy for National Security as set forth in NSC 135/1. In view of the present and prospective Soviet threats to U.S. security, the Joint Chiefs of Staff feel that the timing of the military buildup is of the greatest importance and that it should be expedited to the extent feasible in the light of other compelling considerations.

3. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are not unmindful of the importance of timely use of military forces in support of national policies and in order to check the cumulative losses to the free world of areas of great importance to our national security. They consider, however, that in order to avoid maldeployment with respect to readiness for general war a decision as to the use of military forces should be made only after careful consideration of conditions existing at the time.

For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

Omar N. Bradley

Chairman
Joint Chiefs of Staff

1. A covering memorandum from Lay to the National Security Council, dated Sept. 2, reads: “At the request of the Secretary of Defense, the attached views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with respect to the reference report on the subject are circulated herewith for the information of the National Security Council in connection with Council consideration of NSC 135/1 at its meeting on September 3, 1952.”
2. Reference is to NSC 135/1 and its Annex, pp. 80 and 89, respectively.
3. Not found in Department of State files.