Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume III, National Security Policy; Arms Control and Disarmament, Microfiche Supplement

151. Memorandum From Lay to the NSC¹

Washington, April 21, 1959

SUBJECT

• Status of Military Mobilization Base Program

REFERENCES

• A. NSC 5810/1
• B. NSC Action No. 2019

The enclosed memorandum on the subject from the Deputy Secretary of Defense, prepared pursuant to NSC Action No. 2019–b–(1) and –(2), is transmitted herewith for the information of the National Security Council.

James S. Lay, Jr.
Executive Secretary

cc: The Secretary of the Treasury

The Director, Bureau of the Budget

The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

The Director of Central Intelligence

Enclosure

Memorandum From Quarles to Lay

SUBJECT

• Status of Military Mobilization Base Program (U)

NSC Action No. 2019 requires that the Department of Defense report to the National Security Council on developments in the review of its Mobilization Base planning concepts.

In reference to paragraph b–(1) of NSC Action No. 2019, the Department of Defense is now reviewing the validity of the assumption of a mobilization period of six months prior to D-Day. The results of this review will be incorporated into our recommendations to be made in connection with the current review of Basic National Security Policy (NSC 5810/1).

In reference to paragraph b–(2), the Department of Defense, in cooperation with the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization, has just completed the first in a series of hazard probability studies for use in identifying logistics problems which might reasonably be predicted in connection with the initial phase of a General War. These studies constitute an important initial step in giving us a capability for taking bomb damage into account in future mobilization base planning.

/s/ Donald A. Quarles
Deputy

1. Source: Transmits a memorandum from Quarles to the NSC on “Status of Military Mobilization Base Program.” Secret. 2 pp. NARA, RG 59, S/P–NSC Files: Lot 62 D 1, NSC 5810, 5906.