National Defense Subseries, 1931-1946

Scope and content:

Correspondence, telegrams statements, speeches, petitions, and printed material pertain to national defense policies of the United States, U. S. involvement in World War II, preparation for war, mobilization, and military policy not directly connected with the War or Navy departments. The major portion ot the material is concentrated in the late 1930's and in the 1940's. Information during the early 1930's generally relates to disarmament, defense appropriations, and the development of various branches of the armed services. With the outbreak of hostilities in Spain in 1936, there is correspondence concerning neutrality and an arms embargo. Most of the material from the beginning of World War II in Europe through the entry of the United States into the war revolves around tile issues of keeping the United States out of a "European" war, military conscription, and neutrality versus aid to the Allies. Correspondence during the war years relates largely to the prosecution of the war and to the home front. Major topics of concern include conscription and the various draft laws, including age limits, drafting single and married men, and the drafting of women; rationing and shortages; the Office of Price Administration (OPA) and its policies; and the Federal Works Administration. Toward the end of the war, thoughts turn to peacetime conscription and the Universal Military Training Bill, the continuation of the OPA, and the return of servicemen to the United States. The McMahon Bill of 1946 provided for civilian control over atomic research, Material is arranged chronologically by month.

1. 1932: Disarmament conference; national defense appropriation.
2. 1933-1935: National defense appropriation for the development of the armed services, including the Navy, the Army Air Corps, and the Army.
3. 1936: Neutrality Act; Arms Embargo; pamphlet entitled Report of the Proceedings of the Statewide Coordination Meeting of Federal Agencies Operating in North Carolina,War Emergency Act.
4. 1937:Neutrality.
5. 1939: Embargo on arms to Spain; U. S. involvement in the European war.
6. 1940: Conscription; neutrality and aid to the Allies.
7. 1941: Selective Service, constituent opinion on the of Robert Rice Reynolds (D-N. C.) as chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs; pamphlet entitled The People Look at National Defense.
8. 1942:Teenage Draft Bill; rationing, especially automobile tires and rubber; Federal Works Administration.
9. 1943: Drafting of married and unmarried men; rationing, especially gasoline; copies of addresses by Eddie Rickenbacker; OPA regulations. OPA regulations; selective service; peacetime conscription; National Service Act.
10. 1945: Continuation of OPA; shortages, especially of fuel oil; Universal Military Training; price controls; Work or Fight Bill.
11. 1946:Continuation of price controls; petitions for restoration of full power to OPA; Universal Military Training; McMahon Bill for civilian control over atomic research; Terminal Leave Bill.

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