3
47.02.06B (435w)
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT February 6, 1947
[Washington, DC]
I have carefully considered Secretary Patterson’s views on the Selective Service and Training Act as transmitted to you by letter of 31 January, 1947.1 Previously I had talked to him regarding this on the telephone. I note particularly that the Act expires on March 31, 1947.
If there is the barest possibility that Selective Service must be resorted to in the future because of serious personnel shortages in the Armed Forces, then I believe it would be an error to allow the Act to expire in the hope that it might be subsequently re-enacted when the need arises. It would seem better to press for continuation of the Act for a period of six months, with the legal stipulation that no drafts could be called during this period. Such action would keep alive the required legislation and the framework upon which it could be implemented, and would provide a means, if and as required, for immediate action by the Congress without the need for new legislation, either to terminate it six months from March 31 or to continue it in force as necessary to keep our Armed Forces at their required strength.
I also believe that an extension of the Act by Congress, representing the American people, would have a highly salutary effect upon our relations with other nations during this period of negotiations over disarmament measures.
Passage of legislation for Universal Military Training, however, transcends in importance, in my opinion, the considerations mentioned above. If, therefore, continuation of the Selective Service and Training Act would jeopardize our chances for Universal Military Training, I would accept the termination of Selective Service on March 31st as necessary.2
NA/RG 59 (Central Decimal File, 811.20/2–647)
1. Judge Robert P. Patterson had been undersecretary of war from 1940 to 1945 and secretary of war since September 27, 1945.
2. Army mobilization plans, as disclosed by members of the House Armed Services Committee on February 12, depended upon the passage of universal military training (UMT) legislation in lieu of Selective Service. At a February 20 press conference, President Truman said that he had always been in favor of UMT and that he would not seek to extend Selective Service beyond its expiration date. On March 3, the president sent Congress a message embodying these points. (New York Times, February 13, 1947, p. 10; February 21, 1947, p. 1; March 4, 1947, p. 15; and March 25, 1947, p. 1.) UMT was a key topic of debate in and out of Congress during 1947, but no bill embodying it was passed.