238. Notes of the Legislative Leadership Meeting0
[Here follow a list of participants and a summary.]
Draper Committee Report 2—Mr. Dillon presented the preliminary findings of the Draper Committee as recommending an additional $400 million, mostly for the NATO military support program. After reviewing this, State Department agreed that $400 million is approximately in order, especially since the original submission to Congress was held at a minimum pending the Committee study. Mr. Dillon stated that the Administration thought it best to transmit the report to Congress without asking for additional funds at this time since the contingency fund can cover any immediate requirements, and a further request can be made next session should that be necessary.
Mr. Dillon commented on the high qualifications of the members of the Committee and on the further work they would do to stimulate a public committee supporting the mutual security program.
[Page 452]The President characterized the report as very objective, then went on to speak of the problem that would develop in the public mind as regards authorization and expenditures. The President wanted it understood that very little was needed at the moment for expenditures and that there was no hurry about obtaining the desired authorization.
The President then stressed the importance of the NATO concept to defense of the North Atlantic area and his own willingness to give up an eminently desirable position at Columbia because of his belief in this concept. He noted that he had not yet seen any evaluation of the ability of NATO nations to make an increase in their own efforts. Mr. Quarles heartily confirmed Mr. Dillon’s comments on the merits of the preliminary findings, which he could substantiate from his own travels around Europe. Modernization of NATO forces is clearly needed, and the United States must provide the modern weapons even though the other nations intensify their own efforts. The JCS, he said, strongly supported the conclusion that the military program should continue to be maintained at the expenditure level of about $2.2 billion, whereas the pending NOA request stands at $1.6 billion.
Sen. Dirksen thought that political advantage lay on the side of vigorous assertion of the case for mutual security. Mr. Halleck thought the report would be extremely valuable in the effort to get the actual appropriation increased nearly to what the Administration had requested. He concurred in the desirability of postponing any requests for additional authorization specifically in connection with the Draper Committee report. Sen. Saltonstall hoped that the Administration would not now forecast the possibility of a supplemental request next year. Mr. Dillon stated that any supplemental next year could only serve to make up the difference between the Administration’s original request and whatever Congress authorizes this year, since it should not be expected that Congress would put through new basic legislation (which an authorization bill is for this program) on a supplemental basis.
The President again emphasized the worth of the report. He stated the dependence of the nation’s security in the long run on a balanced budget. He commented ironically on the demagoguery involved in requests for additional appropriations for the Department of Defense by people who argue against the mutual security program. He continued to believe that a reduction of $1/2 billion in mutual security could require up to $15 billion additional in DoD funds. He repeated his desire to see a more careful analysis of UK and French capability, since they can accomplish many things in their own countries at much less expense than can we. He noted that he would himself talk with General Draper before any definite action is taken.
[Page 453][Here follows discussion of unrelated topics.]
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Confidential. Drafted by Minnich.↩
- The meeting took place at the White House.↩
- See footnote 3, Document 235.↩