Office of the Historian

128. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Cutler) to the President1

Washington, July 5, 1957

The President:

1.
It was proposed that the Planning Board now undertake to study the Far East area (“Further application of the New Look”)2 with reference to feasible reductions in U.S. forces deployed there and in indigenous force levels there supported by U.S. foreign aid.
2.
The JCS (Radford) suggest that such a study be not made in view of the JCS undertaking promptly to review U.S. force levels on a global basis in the light of the $38 billion “allowable” to DOD for expenditure in FY 58 and FY 59.3
3.
The JCS proposal has the merit of (a) being global in approach, an obvious necessity before decisive action in any one area can be taken, (b) producing prompt military advice as to U.S. overseas force levels requisite to a P.B. (or any other integrated) study.
4.
In addition to the above-mentioned budgetary limitation, will the JCS review take into account:
a.
the much increased fire power given by modern weapons to smaller forces?
b.
a review of the missions and commitments of U.S. forces overseas in the light of the current world situation?
c.
consideration, in addition to U.S. force levels deployed overseas, to indigenous force levels supported by U.S. aid; on the basis not only of military factors and “allowables” for FY 58 and FY 59 for foreign military and economic aid but also taking into account political and economic ingredients (such as keeping a current regime in control, the pride and position of an indigenous regime, outbidding Communist aid offers, indigenous economic capabilities, etc.)?
5.
If the JCS undertakings were to be completed in the reasonably near future (by Sept 1 ?), a P. B. study on a broader geographical basis and making use of the JCS review would prove more useful.
R.C.4
  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Project Clean Up, U.S. Security Effort. Top Secret. A handwritten notation on the source text reads: “read by P and approved. RC”. In a letter to Radford, dated July 8, Cutler said he took up this memorandum with the President (a copy of which he enclosed in his July 8 letter to Radford) “this morning.” (Ibid.)↩
  2. Document 125.↩
  3. See supra.↩
  4. Printed from a copy that bears these typed initials.↩