Correspondence Between President Harry S. Truman and Secretary of Defense General George Marshall with Related Material

TOP SECRET NLT(CF)9 96 THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE North atlantic Treaty WASHINGTON and Fill JAN 3 1951 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT At their Brussels meeting, the North Atlantic Defense Ministers agreed to the immediate establishment in London of a North Atlantic Defense Production Board with the objective of achieving the maximum production of military equipment to meet the requirements of NATO. As you know, at that meeting Mr. Pace announced the designation of # Mr. William L. Batt as the United States member of this Board. The key position in this organization will be that of Director of NATO Defense Production who, by agreement, would be an American. As over-all coordinator of production of the NATO member nations, the individual selected for this position will bear an important responsibility second only to that of the Supreme Commander. As its first order of business the Board will meet shortly to appoint the Director. It is considered that an individual of prominence and demonstrated leadership in United States industry, as well as of considerable international distinction should be nominated by this government. BARRYS TRUMAN ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMIN." GOVERNMENT LIBRARY Consultations between Mr. Charles Wilson, Mr. Averill Harriman, Mr. William Foster, General Lucius Clay, Mr. Sidney Weinberg, Mr. J. D. E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 State Dept. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 NLT, Date 6-20-24 Small, Mr. George Perkins and Mr. Karl R. Bendetsen (representing Mr. Frank Pace) have resulted in agreement among them that the persons named on the attachment are qualified. Any of these persons would be acceptable to General Eisenhower. I recommend them to you in the DECLASSIFIED order named. There is general agreement that Herod is the outstand- ing candidate and that every effort should be made to obtain his services. No steps have been taken, however, to determine the avail- ability of any of those listed pending an indication from you of their acceptability or of your further desires respecting potential nominees. Upon receipt of an expression of your desires in this matter, I would propose, with your approval, to undertake, in collaboration with Mr. Charles Wilson, to determine the availability of, and transmit to the Defense Committee the name and qualifications of the individual so hominated. x Lefense 1 Incl mobilization x Wefense Dept. Attachment as described. TOP SEGRET T513