HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 1953

the civilian components of the Army of the United States, and
specifically to the National Guard, the Officers' Reserve Corps
and the Organized Reserves, the basic principles of the policies
laid down in the National Defense Act of 1916 as amended, and
especially the provisions of the Selective Training and Service
Act of 1940 relating to the status of the National Guard as an
integral part of the first line of defense of the nation

The contributions made by the National, Guard units and
the Organized Reserves on the battle fields of World War II
completely justify the wisdom of the Congress in making
them a first-line component of the Army of the United States,
and amply warrants their retention in that capacity; and be
it further

Resolved, That we fully subscribe to and endorse the position
taken by the Secretary of War, as to the future status of the
National Guard, as announced on November'23, 1944, in which
he states:

"It would be the mission of this reserve component (the
National Guard), in the event of a national emergency to
furnish units fit for service anywhere in the world.

"This conception of the mission of the National Guard of
the United States would interfere in no way with the tradi-
tional mission of the National Guard of the States and Ter-
ritories to provide sufficient organization in each State, Ter-
ritory and the District of Columbia, so trained and equipped
as to enable them to function efficiently at existing strength
in the protection of life and property and the preservation
of peace, order and public safety, under competent orders
of the State authorities.

National Guard units have played a vital role in
the mobilization of our present Army and they have made a
brilliant record on every fighting front. We are counting
on them as a bulwark of our future national security. "

We also approve and endorse the statement of General
George Marshall, Chief of Staff of the Army of the United
States, set forth in War Department Circular No. 347, August
25, 1944, to the effect that the Postwar Military Establishment
should consist of a professional peacetime Army (no larger
than necessary to meet normal peacetime requirements) to be
reinforced in time of emergency by organized units drawn from
the civilian components of the Army of the United States; and
be it further

Resolved, That we advocate, in the event that a system of
universal military training be included in the Postwar Plan
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