Show leader Asks a Defense Aims ims NEW YORK Dec 11 AP H. AP-H. H. H W. W Prentis Jr president of the National Association of Manufacturers asserted Wednesday Wednesday Wednes- Wednes day y industry could do more for national defense than is be- be being king ing g accomplished if the government would define defense ob ob- ob Prentis also president of Armtrong Armstrong Armstrong Arm- Arm strong trong Cork company spoke to more than delegates to the annual Congress of American In Industry Industry Industry In- In of the association opening its three day convention American industry said Prentis Prentis Pren- Pren Jis has repeatedly pledged its wholehearted support to the na national na- na defense program It has moved swiftly to meet all the de demand demands demands de- de mands mand that have been made by the government to date Depends on Government But industry could do more if we are in hi the opinion of government government government govern govern- ment actually faced with emergency emergency emergency emer emer- gency war production How fast industry diverts its efforts from production for normal needs to armament depends upon how seriously seriously seriously seri seri- government regards the immediate immediate immediate im im- mediate future Whether production for Great Britain or production for our own defense is the more important is for government to decide Whether the urgency is such as to demand industrial output on a hour 24 seven-day seven basis and the removal of all restrictive factors factors factors fac fac- tors to the fullest possible armaments armaments armaments arma arma- ments production government and only government can say Much as they abhor war American manufacturers will do their full part under any and every circumstance But to speak candidly and not in a spirit of carping criticism industry is today deeply concerned concerned con con- over the failure of government government government gov gov- to develop those essential essential essential essen essen- policies that experiences inthe in inthe inthe the World war indicate are imperative imperative imperative im im- if our objective of production production production pro pro- more production and still stillmore more more production is to be speedily attained First and foremost there is lacking Jacking a great definition of our defense objectives What do we intend to protect to what extent is the government proposing ultimately ultimately ultimately ulti ulti- to reach out beyond those physical areas in which our national na- na national national na na- interests are directly at stake Despite the splendid work that has been done by the members of the national defense advisory commission and the patriotic public public pub pub- lic lie servants who man the army and navy departments industry is deeply concerned moreover about bout the lack of time long-time planning planning planning plan plan- ning which is not only essential to defense but also urgently needed needed needed need need- ed to guard against the inevitable aftermath of the present armament arma arma- ment ert boom Gives Conclusion Prentis Prent s summed up 9 The National Association of Manufacturers urges s First that the ordinary expenses expenses expenses ex ex- of government government federal federal state and local local local-be be curbed at every possible point Second that sound provisions be made for new revenue for defense de defense defense de- de purposes Third that every feasible step be taken to encourage the use use- of private capital in defense industries indus indus- tries Fourth that the development of new enterprises that serve peacetime needs be encouraged to toas as great a degree as is consistent with the defense program |