62. Memorandum From the Deputy Director of the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization (McDermott) to Frank Cash of the Office of German Affairs1
SUBJECT
- Federal Emergency Plan for Berlin
Transmitted herewith in accordance with our conversation this morning is a comprehensive Federal Emergency Plan for Berlin prepared by the staff of the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization.2 You will note that this plan contemplates a series of inter-related actions to attain industrial mobilization, military expansion, and increased readiness in civil defense. Although this document has not received final clearance within the agency, I am providing you with a copy of it to serve as a check list of actions which may need to be considered.
During the first phase of our preparations for Berlin—roughly July through August—we must make a number of important decisions. We must also initiate action on those organizational and preparatory measures which, because of leadtime consideration, cannot be deferred, including legislation and funding requirements.
During Phase I it is vitally important from the standpoint of the national economy and the civilian population that we take the following actions:
- 1)
- Actions to strengthen our control over the economy to make it responsive to national needs as they develop, and
- 2)
- Actions to prepare the population to the fullest extent possible for the contingencies of limited or general war which may develop.
It is proposed that Congress be asked for standby emergency legislation covering:
- 1)
- Priorities and allocations,
- 2)
- Authority to requisition,
- 3)
- Expansion of productive capacity and supply,
- 4)
- Acquisition and disposition of real property,
- 5)
- Emergency contracting authority,
- 6)
- Plant seizure authority,
- 7)
- Emergency foreign assistance,
- 8)
- Price, wage, and rent stabilization,
- 9)
- Control of consumer and real estate credit,
- 10)
- Employment control,
- 11)
- Settlement of labor disputes,
- 12)
- Censorship of communications, and
- 13)
- Other general provisions.
OCDM should also move within existing authorities to:
- 1)
- Obtain from Department of Defense phased strength requirements and estimates of production requirements for military build-up.
- 2)
- Obtain from State Department information on requirements for foreign economic aid.
- 3)
- Establish procedure for determining requirements for the civilian population.
- 4)
- Obtain from the Council of Economic Advisers, Department of Treasury, and Federal Reserve Board recommendations for indirect economic controls and fiscal policy proposed to meet the requirements of the mobilization period.
- 5)
- Initiate preparation for the establishment and staffing of emergency agencies in the fields of stabilization, transportation, communications, and censorship.
- 6)
- Notify selected executive reservists of a possible call up to duty on a selective basis.
- 7)
- Establish mechanisms and procedures for determining relative urgency of Federal agency programs and establish program priorities if necessary.
Emergency measures are also needed to effect the maximum degree of civil defense preparedness. These actions should include:
- 1)
- An intensive public information program stressing emergency actions to save lives,
- 2)
- A six-month program to provide a maximum feasible amount of shelter from radioactive fallout,
- 3)
- An emergency program to insure the continuity of government at Federal, state, and local levels, and
- 4)
- Preparation of a detailed program for the selective procurement and stockpiling and distribution of radiological instruments, medical supplies, and essential survival items.
The Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization is in a position to provide detailed support for many of the items listed in the preceding paragraphs. In addition, we are prepared to move ahead in the implementation of this program at the direction of the President.