It is of critical importance that the Board should have a clear mandate of the items that are to be procured under a maximum economic effort. If requirements are defined short of our utmost potential our planning will, of necessity, fall short of providing for a complete mobilization of our resources. If requirements are set of a dimension far beyond attainment, we shall find ourselves with overexpended facilities for which there are insuffiecient raw materials, with many finished items and components for which necessary complements are missing, and with general economic confusion and dislocation. I should fell myself negligent in duty if I did not point out that we are at an impasse in our production planning, in that we are consistent with what we ahve defined as and still believe to be, practicable overall goals. Under these circumstances, I feel that I must come to you for instruction upon what is clearly a matter of major policy. Respectfully, Donald M. Nelson The President The White House Washington, D.C. |