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{
    "localId": "213875772",
    "label": "National Security Council Report 20, A Report to the National Security Council by the Secretary of Defense on Appraisal of the Degree  and Character of Military Preparedness Required by the World Situation",
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    "id": "213875772",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "National Security Council Report 20, A Report to the National Security Council by the Secretary of Defense on Appraisal of the Degree  and Character of Military Preparedness Required by the World Situation",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/213875772",
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    "productionDates": [
        {
            "day": 12,
            "logicalDate": "1948-07-12",
            "month": 7,
            "year": 1948
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{
    "seq": 4,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
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    "ocrText": "OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE\nTOP SEORET\nWashington\nCOPY\n10 July 1948\nTRUMAN\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY,\nthe for ARCHIVES \"MATIONAL SERVICE\" RECORDS AND\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nCOVERAGE\nSUBJECT: Appraisal of the Degree and Character of Military\nPreparedness Required by the World Situation\nThe preparation of budget estimates for Fiscal Year 1950 is one of the\nmost important tasks before the National Military Establishment during the next\nninety days. The size and character of these estimates will largely determine\nthe nature of our military strength until July 1, 1950. Moreover, because of\nthe time factor involved in any military build-up, such estimates will also ma-\nterially affect our capabilities in the years immediately thereafter.\nDecisions concerning the optimum military budget under all the circum-\nstances must be responsive to many factors which are not entirely within the pur-\nview of the National Military Establishment and with respect to which the Mili-\ntary Establishment requires firm guidance. Since the entire reason for the main-\ntenance of military forces in this country is the safeguarding of our national\nsecurity, their size, character, and composition should turn upon a careful anal-\nysis of existing and potential dangers to our security and upon decisions as to\nthe methods by which such dangers can best be met within the limitations of our\nresources. Sound military planning presupposes determinations by the appropriate\nGovernmental authorities as to the ways in which, and the times at which, the se-\ncurity of the United States may be endangered. Moreover, since these various\ndangers may be of both a military and a non-military character, decisions must\nthen be reached as to the respective roles which military strength and other ac-\ntivities directed toward our national security--foreign aid, for example--should\neach play in an over-all security program designed to forestall these dangers.\nThese decisions must clearly reflect our national objectives, and must take into\naccount such collateral factors as the psychological effects of varying degrees\nof military strength, both upon potential forces and upon friends, and of exist-\ning or probable international 8 mmitments.\nHaving made these basic decisions as to our objectives and as to the\nrole of military strength in achieving them, we can then proceed to consider the\nshare of our national resources which must be allocated to support military ac-\ntivities and, within the limit of such resources, the kind of military establish-\nment best adapted to furthering these objectives. If the dangers are great, im-\nmediate and of a military character, this fact should be clearly reflected in our\nmilitary budget and our military strength adapted accordingly. If the risks are\nsmall, if they are distant rather than immediate, or if they are primarily of a\nNSC 20\n- 1 -\nTOP SACREIT"
}