Department of State Disarmament Files1
Memorandum by the Secretary of the Navy (Forrestal) to the Secretary of State
secret
Washington, 25 February
1947.
Up to now the emphasis in any discussion in the United Nations about reduction of military power has always focussed on disarmament—which means weapons and technological equipment.
Is it worthwhile trying to shift the emphasis on this subject by introduction of an American proposal for the reduction of armies, with inspection to guarantee fulfillment?
Forrestal
- Secretary Marshall acknowledged receipt of this memorandum on February 25 and stated that he had referred it to Joseph Johnson for reference to the Executive Committee on Regulation of Armaments. The exchange of notes was circulated in RAC as Doc. RAC D–11(WP–5), March 12. (Department of State Disarmament Files)↩