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.
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