WAR DEPARTMENT Washington MEMORANDUM December 25, 1941 Supply for 1942 1. The means of warfare which will become available to the anti- Axis powers in 1942 will come primarily from the stocks and production of Russia, the British Empire and the United States. a. Russian stocks and production are unkown, but can be assumed quite properly as inadequate for Russia's strategic role in 1942. b. British Empire stocks and production are known, but it is doubtful that there can be any appreciable increase in production over present forecasts. c. American stocks and production are known. Production schedules have been prepared based on appropriations to include all but the last supplemental (3d Supplemental, Fiscal Year 1942.) With additional appropriations, the amounts in these schedules can be increased. 2. The means of warfare should be produced to fit the strategic concept of defeating the enemy. However, the establishment of production takes so much time that the items scheduled for 1942 cannot be greatly changed without causing a serious reduction in output during that year. Consequently, present production schedules for 1942 should be changed as little as possible. The change in emphasis on the production of certain types of supplies for 1942 should be effected within the increased productive capacity available primarily in the United States. In other words, for 1942 there are two sources of supply: a. The stocks and presently scheduled production of the anti- Axis powers. |