Ask the Scholar

{
    "localId": "213875964",
    "label": "National Security Council Report 20/2, A Report to the National Security Council by the Department of State on Factors Affecting the Nature of the United States Defense Arrangements in Light of Soviet Policies",
    "core": "doc",
    "dtoType": "document",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/213875964"
}

{
    "id": "213875964",
    "sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/213875964",
    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "National Security Council Report 20/2, A Report to the National Security Council by the Department of State on Factors Affecting the Nature of the United States Defense Arrangements in Light of Soviet Policies",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/213875964",
    "collections": [
        "President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)",
        "Subject Files"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602191/750605/750605-03-001.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602191/750605/750605-03-001.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602191/750605/750605-03-001.jpg",
    "imageCount": 15,
    "hasImages": true,
    "source": "import",
    "hasTranscription": false
}

{
    "url": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/213875964",
    "naId": 213875964,
    "levelOfDescription": "item",
    "productionDates": [
        {
            "day": 25,
            "logicalDate": "1948-08-25",
            "month": 8,
            "year": 1948
        }
    ],
    "recordType": "description",
    "ocrSource": "nara-archive"
}

{
    "seq": 5,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602191/750605/750605-03-005.jpg",
    "mediaId": "3c16fa9a612fa570",
    "ocrText": "C o P Y\nTOP SECRET\nPPS-33 (6/23/48)\nCAS TOWNAY RECORAS\nFACTORS AFFECTING THE NATURE OF THE U.S.\nDEFENSE ARRANGEMENTS IN THE LIGHT OF\ncove\nSOVIET POLICIES\nA. Degree of probability of military complications at the present\ntime.\n1.\nThe following factors militate against the likelihood at\nthis juncture of international, planned Soviet armed ac-\ntion which would involve this country.\n(a) The events of the past two wars have demonstrated that\nunless a European agressor can be sure of dealing a de-\ncisive blow to the North American military-industria]\npotential in the initial phase of his effort to domi-\nnate the European continent, he can never be sure of\nfinal victory.\nThe Russians could not be sure of being able to\ndeal such a blow in present circumstances,\n(b) The physical destruction on Soviet territory during the\nrecent war was far more severe than is generally real-\nized in the west, and has not yet been by any means\nmade good by new construction.\n/In this connection, we should not be misled by\nreports that in certain key items the Soviet industrial\neffort has reached the pre-war level. This does not al-\nter the fact that a huge reconstruction problem still\nremains and that important sectors of Soviet economy--\nincluding particularly transport--are in a state of\nserious backwardness and obsolescence\n(c)\nThe war-weariness of the Soviet peoples is as great, if\nnot greater, than in the case of any other of the major\ncountries. This factor has to be seriously considered\nby the Soviet Government.\n(d) In seeking control over foreign territories, Soviet\nleaders have a strong traditional preference for po-\nlitical means as opposed to direct military action.\nThis preference stems not from moral considerations,\nbut from communist ideology and from Russian national\ntradition.\nNSC 20/2\n- 1 -\nTOP SECRET"
}