FOREIGN RELATIONS, 19 5 0, VOLUME I


visaged in the Report, including estimates of their probable cost. The
President went on to say that pending the urgent completion of this
study, action on existing programs should not be postponed or delayed.
Furthermore, the President desired that no publicity be given to -the
Report or its contents without his approval.
  At an NSC meeting on April 20, it .was decided that an ad hoe
committee be established immediately to prepare a response-to the
directive contained in the President's letter of April 12,2 The NSC
wIl take decisions at a subsequent meeting on the questions of recon-
stituting the NSC Staff and of coordinating the implementation of
the programs proposed in response to NSC 68.
  There appear to be three major questions requiring the immediate
attention of the ad hoc committee: (1) timing; (2) the implications
of the Conclusions of NSC 68; and (3) the formulation of the
programs under NSC 68.
I. The Question of Timing
   The principal issue involving the time 'factor is whether any of the
programs envisaged under NSC 68 will require changes in the FY
1951 budget now before Congress. At first glance, the programs which
might have to be considered in the light of this question1include (1)
any increases in military appropriations above those recommended
by the Secretary of Defense on April 26; (2) any increases in the
MDAP appropriations for FY 1951; (3) any increase in the appro-
priation for information programs; and (4) any emergency fund
available for use by the President to meet critical situations which
might arise, as, for instance, in Berlin, Yugoslavia, Southeast Asia, etc.
   In considering this question of timing there would appear to be
 two alternative approaches: (1) To attempt to obtain increased appro-
 priations at this present session of Congress, in which case decisions
 on those programs would presumably have to be made prior to June 15,
 1950; or (2) to attempt to obtain supplemental appropriations at.the
 next session of Congress in January 1951.
   However, even in the event that the latter alternative recommends
 itself tothe committee, the urgency of the situation described-in NSC
 68 indicates that the programs should be completed not later than
 August 1, 1950.
 II. The I-mplioations of the Conclusions-of NSC 68
   In order to facilitate the speediest possible formulation of the de-
 partmental and agency programs, it would seem- deSirablefo'r the ad
   'Regarding-the composition of the A& Hoc Committee, see Executive
Secretary
 Lay's memorandum (p. 297) of its first meeting, May 2, which was directed
to the
 participants.


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