The National Security Council recommends that the President approve the
Conclusions contained herein and direct that they be implemented by all
appropriate Executive Departments and Agencies of the US Government under
the coordination of the Secretary of State.3
[Enclosure]
Report by the National Security Council on the
Position of the United States With Respect to Providing Military
Assistance to Nations of the Non-Soviet World
the problem
1. To assess and appraise the position of the United States with respect
to providing military assistance in the form of supplies, equipment and
technical advice to nations of the non-Soviet world.
analysis
2. The success of certain free nations in resisting aggression by the
forces of Soviet directed world communism is of critical importance to
the security of the United States. Some of these nations require not
only economic assistance but also strengthened military capabilities if
they are to continue and make more effective their political resistance
to communist subversion from within and Soviet pressure from without and
if they are to develop ultimately an increased military capability to
withstand external armed attack. Although they possess
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considerable military potential in
manpower and resources, these nations are industrially incapable of
producing intricate modern armaments and equipment in the necessary
quantities. Consequently if they are to develop stronger military
capabilities it is essential that their own efforts be effectively
coordinated and be supplemented by assistance in the form of military
supplies, equipment and technical advice from the United States.
3. Such military assistance from the United States would not only
strengthen the moral and material resistance of the free nations, but
would also support their political and military orientation toward the
United States, augment our own military potential by improvement of our
armaments industries, and through progress in standardization of
equipment and training increase the effectiveness of military
collaboration between the United States and its allies in the event of
war.
4. US military assistance to foreign nations since Lend-Lease does not
appear to have sprung from any well-coordinated program. The practice in
general has been to provide surplus US equipment to nations urgently in
need of strengthening or as a measure of US political interest. In some
instances, spare parts, ammunition, and means of maintenance have been
furnished at the time of the original transfer, but no system for a
continuing supply of ammunition and maintenance items has been
evolved.
5. There is at present an extensive but not a comprehensive legislative
basis for the provision of military assistance. The following
legislative authorizations for transferring US military equipment to
foreign nations are in effect:
-
a.
- The Surplus Property Act4 (which is not
designed for support of military assistance programs),
and
-
b.
- Certain special legislation applying to the following:
- (1)
- Philippine Republic
- (2)
- China
- (3)
- Latin American Republics (legislative basis not
adequate for implementing a program)5
- (4)
- Greece and Turkey
The latter legislation provides in each case for assistance only to a
specific nation or group of nations; it does not authorize the President
to exercise broad discretionary powers as to which nations should be
assisted, how, when and to what extent.
6. Effective implementation of a policy of strengthening the military
capabilities of free nations would be facilitated by the early
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enactment of legislation
broadening the authority of the President to provide military assistance
under appropriate conditions. Title VI (not enacted) of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1948 was designed to provide this authority.6 The proposed
Title VI would have authorized the President to furnish assistance to
foreign governments, provided such assistance was determined to be
consistent with the national interest, and was without cost to the
United States except where appropriations are made by Congress. On the
basis of legislation along these lines, it would be possible to work
out, in the United States and in the course of possible military staff
conversations with selected non-communist nations, a coordinated
military assistance program in which the quotas of each recipient would
be related to overall needs, production capabilities, political
considerations and strategic concepts. Pending the complete formulation
of such an overall program, funds might be immediately appropriated to
meet the urgent requirements of selected non-communist nations.
7. The State–Army–Navy–Air Force Coordinating Committee has devoted
considerable study to the problem of military assistance to foreign
nations and related questions (SANACC
360 series, 382 series). The conclusions of the present Report are based in part upon these SANACC papers and are in substantial
accord with the general trend of thought embodied therein.
conclusions
8. Certain free nations the security of which is of critical importance
to the United States require strengthened military capabilities, if they
are to present effective political resistance to communist aggression
now, and military resistance later if necessary.
9. Therefore, the United States should assist in strengthening the
military capabilities of these nations to resist communist expansion
provided they make determined efforts to resist communist expansion and
such assistance contributes effectively to that end. For this purpose
the United States should provide them with assistance in the form of
military supplies, equipment, and technical advice under a coordinated
program in conformity with the principles set forth in paragraph 12
below.
10. The United States should at the earliest feasible time:
-
a.
- Enact legislation which will broaden the authority of the
President to provide military assistance for foreign states
under appropriate conditions. Title VI (not enacted) of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1948 would be a suitable basis for
such legislation.
-
b.
- Under this authority, appropriate funds for military
assistance
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to selected
non-communist nations to meet urgent requirements consistent
with an over-all program.
11. Any US military assistance program should be predicated to the
maximum practicable extent upon the self-help and mutual assistance of
recipient states.
12. The military assistance program should be governed by the following
considerations:
-
a.
- The program should not jeopardize the fulfillment of the
minimum materiel requirements of the United States armed forces,
as determined by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
-
b.
- The program should not be inconsistent with strategic concepts
approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
-
c.
- Certain factors, such as the need for strengthening the morale
and internal security of recipient nations and protecting
various US interests abroad, may in exceptional cases become
over-riding political considerations modifying the strict
application of paragraphs a and b above.
-
d.
- Continuing support for the program should be planned to
include supply of needed replacements, spare parts and
ammunition so long: as our security interests dictate.
-
e.
- The program should be properly integrated with the ECA program, and should not be
permitted to jeopardize the economic stability of the United
States or other participating nations. The program should be
subject to review and recommendation by the National Security
Resources Board in order to insure a sound balancing of
requirements under the military aid program with US domestic
requirements.
-
f.
- The program should adequately safeguard US classified
material.
13. In measures of military assistance additional to those already
provided for in specific legislation or in existing governmental
undertakings, first priority should be given to Western Europe.
14. Countries participating in military assistance programs should be
encouraged so far as consistent with the progressive stabilization of
their economies:
-
a.
- To cooperate in integrating their armaments industries with a
view ultimately to maintaining and re-supplying their own
equipment when economic conditions permit.
-
b.
- To standardize their weapons and materiel to the maximum
practical extent and, so far as practicable in the future, to US
accepted types.
-
c.
- To provide strategic raw materials to the United States in
return for military assistance.
-
d.
- To compensate the supplying nation for the military assistance
which they receive whenever and to what extent feasible.
15. The military assistance program, in conjunction with the materiel
needs of the US armed forces, will require the partial rehabilitation of
the US armaments industry.
