program above summarized be authoritatively decided upon in concrete terms as the objective to be accomplished by full exercise of all governmental powers. The accomplishment of the above objective is, of course, dependent on the grant of powers asked from Congress in the Loan-Lease Bill but the whole defense administration must today proceed on the assumption that the powers will be granted. In other words, all steps of planning and organization must at once be begun and pursued so that the very day the bill is signed the powers granted by the bill will be capable of being translated into action. Specific measures for translating the central policy here indicated into action will readily suggest themselves. But to give concreteness, the following items emerge as pressing needs: a) Double the existing air program of the Army - from about 50 groups to about 100 groups. Even then the Air Corps, apparently, would still have only about half the first line combat plane strength now reported as attained by Germany. b) Increase plant production capacity to around 4000 to 5000 monthly. c) Take the necessary steps to bring this about. Without proper organization the job will hardly get done. To postpone decisions on the indispensable 1942 program and to postpone preparation for the necessary steps to carry this program into effect is to throw away the one irreplaceable element - time. Such postponement would contradict the whole aim of the program, namely, that it is to be accomplished in 1942. -4- |