NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY — 487

Secretary’s Memoranda : Lot 538D444

M emorandum, of Conversation, by the Under Seoretary of State
: (Webb)

CONFIDENTIAL | rWassawaron,] December 19, 1950.
Caprner Meerine, Tunspay, Decemper 19, 1950
_ COMPARISONS BETWEEN OUR SITUATION TODAY AND THAT OF 1942

Secretary Marshall reported that he had been making some compari-
sons between our situation today and that which we faced in 1942. He
indicated that the present public air of gloom did not take into account
that whereas in 1942 we had almost no ammunition, we now have an
inventory of between nine and ten billion dollars in this category. He
indicated that although there were shortages in particular items of
ammunition, this inventory was of very great value. He indicated also
that in 1942 we lost almost a thousand ships, with their cargoes, and
in addition had to build a fleet, with its consequent drain on steel. The
fact that we have a fleet in being and large numbers of merchant
ships which we can take out of mothballs makes our situation today
much better than in 1942 in this field. He indicated also that with
respect to various arsenals the equipment in 1942 was very antiquated,
and that the arsenals today are well equipped and ready for work. He
indicated also that our Air Force today has real strength, as opposed
to almost none in 1942, General Marshall explained that these matters
were of great significance in starting to plan the task which would be
assigned to Mr. C. E. Wilson,’ and also must be taken into account
in any evaluation of our present position. .

Ja AMES E ‘Wess

1 Director of the Office of Defense Mobilization.

 

Department of State Executive Secretariat Files: Lot psD244

M emorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of 8 tate

TOP SECRET [Wasurneron,] December 97, 1950.

- Senator Hickenlooper 1 telephoned me this afternoon to ask whether
he could come in for a talk. I said that he could come in immediately
or I would make an appointment later at his convenience. He. came
at once and stayed with me for about halfan hour. |

4 Senator Bourke B. Hickenlooper of Iowa; member of the Senate Foreign
Relations : Committee and the J oint Committee on Atomic Energy. —