Letter from Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal to President Harry S. Truman, with Attachments

Extracted text

OCR Page 1 of 5
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (B) OSD letter, April 12, 1974 By NLT- He , NARS Date 7.16.75 for-Store for DECRET Dear Mr. President: With reference to letter from the Secretary of War to you dated 11 May 1945, concerning United States bases in the Philippines, I suggest that the attached TAB be substituted for the preliminary statement of general principles suggested by the Secretary of War. As amended by me, this draft will include in one paper the requirements of both Army and Navy. The general Navy plan is to provide a major naval repair base, naval operating bases and fleet anchorages, bases for submarines and light craft, and a limited number of air bases for overseas reconnaissance, antisubmarine operations, and for carrier aircraft. The most suitable locations cannot be determined until engineer- ing studies now in progress are completed. Very sincerely yours, NATIONAL fames tonestal The President, The White House.