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  4. Document 258

ECA–MSA files, lot W–745, “Congressional Testimony”

No. 258
Memorandum by Warren Baum of the Mutual Security Agency

secret
Washington, March 31, 1952.

Highlights of Congressional Testimony by General Omar N. Bradley, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, March 28, 19521

1. Soviet—US forces

General Bradley described the current state of the build up of American and Soviet forces at considerable length. His testimomy was top secret and off the record and cannot be reproduced here.

2. Need for defense support

Representative Bolton wanted to know whether the $1.8 billion of defense support could be translated rapidly into equipment in view of the fact that our delivery schedules were lagging. General Bradley answered that he attributed great importance to the defense support program. The US could not afford to carry the responsibility for equipping European forces for ever. That part of the program which helps to encourage production in Europe is therefore very helpful. Europe needs assistance with its dollar balances and must have an adequate supply of raw materials or else it will be unable to produce the necessary military items. Without defense support, Europe would have to divert its resources from military production to exports. He referred to the British interceptor aircraft as the type of European production which it was essential that Europe be able to continue with our support. Representative Hays asked whether defense support was therefore as vital as the end item program. General Bradley replied that it was in his opinion.

[Page 465]

3. MDAP deliveries

There was a very lengthy discussion, off the record, of the whole production and delivery problem in the US. The Committee indicated a strong desire to get to the bottom of the production problem and to discover why the funds which had been appropriated were not being spent more rapidly. It was indicated that Charles Wilson might be asked to testify, together with Defense Department witnesses on the subject.

  1. See footnote 2, Document 256, for classification notation found on the source text.↩