Testimony Of Commissioner Of Education Earl McGrath Before Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Preparedness

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Testimony of Earl J. McGrath, Commissioner Office of Education Federal Security Agency Before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Preparedne SS January 16, 1951 18 MR. CHAIRMAN: My purpose in appearing today is to clarify, with such data as are available, that part of the proposed Universal Military Service and Training plan which aims to maintain a continuous flow of men in education, training for the occupations and professions essential to the national interest. My testimony will be given in two sections, the first deals with certain matters of basic national concern, and the second of which shows the effect of the proposed course of action. I : Some general principles. It appears clear to me that the general proposal which has been placed before this Committee by the Department of Defense implies certain assumptions which it is well to state for the record. The necessity and the adequacy of the proposal are, to a large extent, dependent upon the soundness of these three assumptions: First, The international situation makes necessary the maintenance of armed forces by this Nation at unprecedented peacetime levels; Secondly, The critical situation is likely to endure for a long time; Thirdly, It is therefore necessary now to make plans for the l'ong pull which as nearly as possible will be adequate to all the basic needs of the Nation, for full strength in essentials in all areas, both military and non-military.