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ADVANCE RELEASE FOR THURSDAY A. M., JANUARY 11, 1951. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Washington, D. C. "MOBILIZING OUR STRENGTH" Address by Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer at the 82nd Annual Banquet of The New England Shoe and Leather Association, Hotel Statler, Boston, Massachusetts, Wednesday, January 10, 1951, 8:30 P.M. 11 Mobilization" fills our conversation and occupies our thoughts. Mobilization is the bringing together of our energies and assets to fashion and implement a program for the defense of our freedom. I should like for my first few moments to discuss with you what has been done in the way of organization of mobilization. You will agree, I am sure, that it is well for us to profit by experi- ence; to avoid, where possible, the errors committed during the last period of great mobilization. One of those errors was duplication; another - - cured finally before the end of the war was lack of unified control. During World War II, and to a certain extent today, there existed the idea that you can accomplish miracles by setting up with nonchalance great new agencies with new names and new staffs. In an effort to avoid this error, President Truman at an early stage of our defense activity announced that where possible mobilization would be directed by the exist- ing agencies of government. Certain controls over materials were given to me as Secretary of Commerce and I promptly set up the National Production Authority within