S/S–NSC Files, Lot 63 D 351, NSC 31 Series
Memorandum by the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the Secretary of Defense (Forrestal)
The U.S. military authorities in Europe have been approached by French military authorities with a request for spare parts and equipment needed for placing in combat condition three French divisions, now in the French zone of occupied Germany. The Commander in Chief, European Command,1 has referred this matter to the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army,2 as a matter of urgency.
The total cost of making the required equipment available to the French will amount to about two and a quarter million dollars. About one-third of the items required can be furnished from excess stocks of the European Command; the remaining two-thirds would have to be furnished from the Zone of the Interior, either from existing stocks or by procurement from industry. The actual expense to the U.S. Armed Forces, involved in implementing the transaction, to include procurement and shipping costs, would be about $380,000,00.
There is no specific authority of law which would permit the transfer to France of the required quantities of U.S. spare parts and equipment. However, it is believed that, despite this lack of specific authority, the President, acting within his plenary powers as Commander in Chief, would be justified in directing the transfer, if he determines that such action is necessary to meet a grave emergency jeopardizing the safety of the United States Armed Forces in Europe.
In view of the present international situation as regards the U.S. and its allies vis-à-vis the USSR, it is considered that positive remedial action should be taken to place in a condition for combat the three French divisions in the French zone of occupied Germany. Even though the deficient condition of these three French divisions would be corrected eventually by Western Union processes, it is felt that our current relations with the USSR would not justify our failure to correct, within our capabilities, known weaknesses in the French forces. The condition of the French forces in occupied Germany is a matter which affects U.S. national security.
It is believed that action should be initiated at the earliest possible time to correct known deficiencies in the three French divisions in the zone of occupation in order to give these divisions a greater potential for resisting any westward movement of the Soviet Army.
In view of the foregoing, the Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend that [Page 649] the National Security Council recommend to the President that he, acting within his plenary powers as Commander in Chief, as head of the State in its relations with foreign countries, and for the purpose of protecting primary security, interests of the U.S. and of the U.S. Armed Forces in Europe, direct the transfer of the required spare parts and equipment, to include procurement where necessary, by the U.S. Armed Forces to the French Government.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff request that, if you concur, the above views be transmitted to the National Security Council.3
Fleet Admiral, U.S. Navy,
Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces