Text Version


    
      
 
 
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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