FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1950 , VOLUME I


  Apart from these ,considerations which make' such a review of our
policy timely, I desire to direct the Chairman of the U.S. Delegation,
Inter-American Defense Board to undertake, through that Board, the
preparation of combined studies for the defense of the Hemisphere.
For this purpose the general principles of the military aspects of im-
plementation of the Treaty should be considered.
  Accordingly, I propose that the National Security Council recom-
mend a statement of United States Policy with respect to the military
aspects of the implementation of the Inter-American Treaty of Re-
ciprocal Assistance. Such a policy may well concern the National
Advisory Council insofar as economic and financial matters are con-
cerned. To this end, I enclose a draft of the proposed policy statement,
prepared in the Department of Defense, for consideration of the Staff
of the National Security Council in formulating its recommendations
to the Council.
  Pending National Security Council action on this proposal, the
Chairman, U.S. Delegation, Inter-American Defense Board, has been
provided with an interim directive by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A
copy of this directive is enclosed for the information and use of your
staff.
                                                  Louis JOH.NSON

                            [Annex 2]
DRAFT REPORT BY THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE POSITION
  OF THE UNITED STATES WITH RESPECT TO THE MILITARY ASPECTS OF
  THE IMTVPLEMENTATION OF THE INTER-AMIERICAN TREATY OF RECIP-
  ROCAL ASSISTANCE

                           THE PROBLEM.
  1. To assess and appraise the position of the United States with
respect to the military aspects of the ikuplementation of the Inter-
American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, with particular reference
to continued military cooperation among the American States.
                            ANALYSIS
  2. During World War II the United States was forced to divert
considerable resources of manpower and materiel for the defense and
operation of Western Hemisphere installations and lines of com-
munication vital to its total war effort. ...
  3. [Here follow references to (a) efforts by the United States to
bring about regional collaboration in hemisphere defense, and (b)
measures undertaken in response to SWNNC 4/10, the text of which
is printed in Foreign Relations, 1945, volume IX, pages 251-254.]


602,