September 11, 1941
 
                    JOINT BOARD ESTIMATES OF
               UNITED STATES OVER-ALL PRODUCTION
                         REQUIREMENTS.
                                
                                
 
I.   DIRECTIVE.
 
        1.      The directive requesting the Secretaries of War and of the Navy to indertake an
exploration of over-all production requirements of the United States is contained in a letter from
the President. This letter, which was referred to the Joint Board for recommendation, is quoted as
follows:
 
                                        "July 9, 1941.
My dear Mr. Secretary:
     I wish that you or appropriate representatives designated by you would join with the
Secretary of War and his representatives in exploring at once the over-all production requirements
required to defeat our potential enemies.
 
            I realize that this report involves the making of appropriate assumptions as to our
probable friends and enemies and to the conceivable theatres of operation which will be required.
 
 
     I wish you would explore the munitions and mechanical equipment of all types which in
your opinion would be required to exceed by an appropriate amount that available to our potential
enemies.  From your report we should be able to establish a munitions objective indicating the
industrial capacity which this nation will require.
 
       I am not suggesting a detailed report but one that, while general in scope, would cover the
most critical items in our defense and which could then be related by the OPM into practical
realities of production facilities. It seems to mo we need to know our program in its entirety, even
though at a later date it may be amended.           
                                
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