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-2-
It would seem to us that a unified Force for the Defense
of Europe does imply a Supreme Commander who would presumably
receive direction from the Standing Group and a Combined Staff
to serve such a Commander. The decision that a Supreme
Commander would be appointed could be made now but the actual
appointment of such a Commander should be delayed until such
time as there are forces in being justifying his appointment.
However, it should be possible now to establish a Combined
Staff with a Chief which could direct the perfection of
defense plans and the necessary steps in the formation of a
Force for the Defense of Europe. This Staff would become the
Supreme Commander's Staff when he was appointed.
Important to be considered are ways and means whereby
German military units could be integrated into such a Force
for the Defense of Europe. The command structure and supply
system should be arranged in such a way as not to create a
German National Army.
On the production and supply side, the US is prepared
to consider measures necessary to put the Military Production
and Supply Board in a position to give effective direction to
supply and production matters involved in equipping a Force
for the Defense of Europe.
You should make it abundantly clear that greater US
participation in the defense of Europe and in the direction
HARRY S. TRUMAN LIBRARY
of such
TOP SECRET
Page data
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Context sent to Scholar
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"ocrText": "TOP SECRET\n-2-\nIt would seem to us that a unified Force for the Defense\nof Europe does imply a Supreme Commander who would presumably\nreceive direction from the Standing Group and a Combined Staff\nto serve such a Commander. The decision that a Supreme\nCommander would be appointed could be made now but the actual\nappointment of such a Commander should be delayed until such\ntime as there are forces in being justifying his appointment.\nHowever, it should be possible now to establish a Combined\nStaff with a Chief which could direct the perfection of\ndefense plans and the necessary steps in the formation of a\nForce for the Defense of Europe. This Staff would become the\nSupreme Commander's Staff when he was appointed.\nImportant to be considered are ways and means whereby\nGerman military units could be integrated into such a Force\nfor the Defense of Europe. The command structure and supply\nsystem should be arranged in such a way as not to create a\nGerman National Army.\nOn the production and supply side, the US is prepared\nto consider measures necessary to put the Military Production\nand Supply Board in a position to give effective direction to\nsupply and production matters involved in equipping a Force\nfor the Defense of Europe.\nYou should make it abundantly clear that greater US\nparticipation in the defense of Europe and in the direction\nHARRY S. TRUMAN LIBRARY\nof such\nTOP SECRET"
}