A G HEARINGS before the UNITED STATES HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS 80th CONGRESS United States Government Printing Office Washington ༔ HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS EIGHTIETH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON THE MILITARY FUNCTIONS, NATIONAL MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS JOHN TABER, New York, Chairman RICHARD B. WIGGLESWORTH, Massachusetts H. CARL ANDERSEN, Minnesota P. W. GRIFFITHS, Ohio LOWELL STOCKMAN, Oregon ERRETT P. SCRIVNER, Kansas CHARLES R. ROBERTSON, North Dakota CLARENCE CANNON, Missouri JOHN H. KERR, North Carolina W. F. NORRELL, Arkansas GEORGE Y. HARVEY, Clerk SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT FRANCIS CASE, South Dakota JOHN H. KERR, North Carolina ROBERT E. LAMBERT, Executive Secretary to Subcommittee II J61 MILITARY FUNCTIONS, NATIONAL MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT APPROPRIATION BILL HEARINGS CONDUCTED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IN CHARGE OF THE MILITARY FUNCTIONS OF THE NATIONAL MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT APPROPRIATION BILL FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1949, ON THE DAYS FOLLOWING, NAMELY TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1948. STATEMENTS OF HON. JAMES V. FORRESTAL, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE; GEN. J. LAWTON COLLINS, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, UNITED STATES ARMY; ADMIRAL LOUIS E. DENFELD, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS, UNITED STATES NAVY; GEN. HOYT S. VANDENBERG, VICE CHIEF OF STAFF, DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE; DR. VANNEVAR BUSH, CHAIRMAN, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD; MAJ. GEN. ALFRED M. GRUENTHER, DIRECTOR, JOINT STAFF; LT. GEN. LEROY LUTES, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE MUNITIONS BOARD; W. J. McNEIL, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO SECRETARY OF DEFENSE; AND R. B. CURRY, ACTING CHIEF, OFFICE OF THE BUDGET, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE Mr. ENGEL. We will now open up the hearings on the Military Establishment appropriation bill for the fiscal year 1949, and we have with us the Honorable James Forrestal, Secretary of Defense. GENERAL STATEMENT Secretary FORRESTAL. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, this is my first appearance before you today as Secretary of Defense, and to that extent it sets a historical precedent. I trust, however, that the form and content of my remarks will not likewise set a precedent, for what I have to say today is governed to a large extent by a situation which is still somewhat fluid-namely, the fact that the National Military Establishment set up 6 months ago under the National Security Act of 1947 is still in process of formation and growth. Mr. ENGEL. I would like to state here that the subcommittee has had a rule for years that the Department can take from the record any matter which may be considered as of aid to anyone who should not have the information, and of course you have that privilege, so you can talk freely. M600339 i |