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Western Europe can be considered as a means of buying increased time for both preparations and movements, if there should be an invasion of that area. Further, the provision of new armaments of United States manufacture would serve to strengthen the industrial mobilization base of United States forces. The overall benefits to be derived are cumulative but over a period of time must depend largely upon the self-help efforts of the recipient nations.

The major portion of the funds appropriated in the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949 is earmarked for members of the North Atlantic Treaty organization possessing major capabilities for self-help. While the Joint Chiefs of Staff cannot at this time recommend definite limitations on future assistance to these nations, they would suggest both progressive reductions in the aid to be provided in the future, and a time limit determined primarily by:


 * . Planned force requirements;


 * . The world situation generally;


 * . The finite benefits derived from each program toward the attainment of United States objectives; and


 * . The concrete demonstrations by recipient nations of self-help toward their national and collective security.

Further, and as a contingency in addition to a limit in time beyond which assistance to the North Atlantic Treaty members will not be extended, it should be emphasized the continuation of military aid even within that limit will be dependent upon the efforts for self-help and mutual aid exerted by each recipient nation since United States military aid can support but not replace efforts at self-help and will to resist.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff will continue to review the objectives of future military assistance programs and will recommend changes in these objectives to you as they become appropriate.

For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

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