21. Editorial Note

On April 22, NSC 5517, “Priorities Relative to Pre-D-Day Allocation of Military Equipment,” was approved by the President. This statement of policy was designed to govern “the allocation of military equipment to U.S. forces and to the forces of all friendly foreign countries receiving equipment from the United States under current approved programs” and was to be applied to all forms of military assistance, including reimbursable assistance.

A revised statement of priorities, NSC 5517/1, was adopted by the National Security Council as NSC Action No. 1431 on August 11 and approved by the President that same day. (Department of State, S/SNSC (Miscellaneous) Files: Lot 66 D 95, Records of Action by the National Security Council) Copies of NSC 5517 and 5517/1 are Ibid.: Lot 63 D 351, NSC 5517 Series, and Ibid.: Lot 62 D 1, Military Equipment, Priorities Relating To. These files also contain copies of memoranda from 1956 and 1957 of the Departments of State and Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Planning Board on proposed amendments to NSC 5517/1. The National Security Council amended one paragraph of NSC 5517/1 on February 21, 1957 (NSC Action No. 1670), which was subsequently approved by the President on February 25. (Ibid.: Lot 66 D 95, Records of Action by the National Security Council) Further revisions were adopted by the Council and approved by the President on March 12, 1958. (NSC Action No. 1872; ibid.) This revised statement of policy was circulated as NSC 5806.