Memorandum from Secretary of Defense George Marshall to President Harry S. Truman

ACORET. P THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE Y WASHINGTON 6 July 1951 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT It is desirable at this time to alert two National Guard Divisions for shipment to Europe. The first of the four divisions for this service is now in Europe. An armored division is now in process of shipment. Two more divisions remain to go to make up the original four. The terms of the Senate Resolution regarding troops to Europe call for certification of the Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense to the Senate, justifying the necessity for such a movement. Under the terms of the Resolution, the original four divisions have already been covered. The question at the present time is whether or not we should go through the form of certification regarding the last two of the four. The members of Congress from whose states these National Guard Divisions come have already been or will be notified. Two members of the Senate Committee concerned, Lodge of Massachusetts and Smith of New Jersey, inquired of the Defense Department regarding the certification of these remaining two divisions. They are being personally informed of the status of the matter and of the fact that the Resolution definitely does not require certification with respect to these particular divisions. Your direction is desired as to whether we go through the form of certification or content ourselves by informal notification. It is the unanimous opinion in the Department that no certification is required. /s/G. C. Marshall Approved 7/6/51 DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065 JEC.III Def. LTR. 6.18.79 NLT-HC NARS, Date 12-3-79 SECRET 51068