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TUP SECRET
for such an attempt if and when the developing situation and
higher decision justify and necessitate this course of action.
They are at present definitely of the opinion, however, for
reasons given in the preceding paragraph, that such an attempt
should not now be made and that any such attempt in the future
should be accompanied by both determination and readiness on
the part of the United States to meet the distinctly probable
consequence of war.
It is assumed that diplomatic effort together with all
practicable oounter-pressure will continue to be used to ar-
rive at peaceful solution of the Berlin problem. In this
connection, it may not be altogether out of the question to
consider, during the time that is to be gained by concentra-
tion of major effort on air transport supply, the possibility
that some justification might be found for withdrawal of our
occupation forces from Berlin without undue loss of prestige.
Although this course is contrary to the assumption as to main-
taining our position in Berlin on which this discussion is
based, the possibility remains that reasonable justification,
such as humanitarian consideration for the population of the
western sectors of Berlin, might develop. Therefore, subject
to unalterable decision that withdrawal in no circumstances
will be undertaken unless forced by war action, the withdrawal
possibility should at least be borne in mind. The development
of plans for such a solution appears desirable, as neither air
transport nor armed convoy in themselves offer a long-range
solution to the problem.
Returning to the Berlin supply problem, the Joint Chiefs
of Staff believe that to attempt to supply Berlin by force is,
from the military viewpoint, justifiable only if:
a. Every other possible solution has first failed
or been discarded,
b. Current evaluation indicates that the effort
is likely to succeed,
C. The United States has first determined that
risk of war in the near future and for the Berlin cause
is acceptable, and
d. All possible time shall first have been gained
and used for adequate preparation for the attempt to
supply by force and for full-ou major war action in
support thereof if war results.
NSC 24
- 3 -
TOP CEORLI
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"ocrText": "TUP SECRET\nfor such an attempt if and when the developing situation and\nhigher decision justify and necessitate this course of action.\nThey are at present definitely of the opinion, however, for\nreasons given in the preceding paragraph, that such an attempt\nshould not now be made and that any such attempt in the future\nshould be accompanied by both determination and readiness on\nthe part of the United States to meet the distinctly probable\nconsequence of war.\nIt is assumed that diplomatic effort together with all\npracticable oounter-pressure will continue to be used to ar-\nrive at peaceful solution of the Berlin problem. In this\nconnection, it may not be altogether out of the question to\nconsider, during the time that is to be gained by concentra-\ntion of major effort on air transport supply, the possibility\nthat some justification might be found for withdrawal of our\noccupation forces from Berlin without undue loss of prestige.\nAlthough this course is contrary to the assumption as to main-\ntaining our position in Berlin on which this discussion is\nbased, the possibility remains that reasonable justification,\nsuch as humanitarian consideration for the population of the\nwestern sectors of Berlin, might develop. Therefore, subject\nto unalterable decision that withdrawal in no circumstances\nwill be undertaken unless forced by war action, the withdrawal\npossibility should at least be borne in mind. The development\nof plans for such a solution appears desirable, as neither air\ntransport nor armed convoy in themselves offer a long-range\nsolution to the problem.\nReturning to the Berlin supply problem, the Joint Chiefs\nof Staff believe that to attempt to supply Berlin by force is,\nfrom the military viewpoint, justifiable only if:\na. Every other possible solution has first failed\nor been discarded,\nb. Current evaluation indicates that the effort\nis likely to succeed,\nC. The United States has first determined that\nrisk of war in the near future and for the Berlin cause\nis acceptable, and\nd. All possible time shall first have been gained\nand used for adequate preparation for the attempt to\nsupply by force and for full-ou major war action in\nsupport thereof if war results.\nNSC 24\n- 3 -\nTOP CEORLI"
}