US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

PIanning for War, 1940-1941 197
I hate to be selfish, but for once, I am glad he is in Washington.
I sit here surrounded by Japanese things plus dogs.g3
DISCLOSURE OF THE VICI ~RY PROGRAM
Just two days prior to the Pearl Harbor Attack, the Director of War Plans
was busy writing a long four-page letter to the Chief of Naval Operations
giving available information in regard to the apparent disclosure to the
Chicago Tribune and the Washington Times Herald of the United States’
“Victory Program.” “ The letter had to be personally written, because the
Director of War Plans was the actual custodian of the only copy of the
“Victory Program” in the War Plans office. The “Victory Program” was a
Joint Board paper with individually prepared logistics requirements for the
Army and Navy.
This investigation, called a witch hunt by some, and regarding which
Turner disclaimed all responsibility for himself and his subordinates of dis-
closure to the press, had considerable influence in strengthening the belief in
the Navy Department of the correctness of limiting secret information to
those “who need to know.”
Kelly Turner had long been an advocate of this “need to know” policy.
Admiral King, when Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet, had not
been privy to the ABC-1 Staff agreements of 27 March 1941 which provided
for American-British collaboration short of war and for full scale military
cooperation in time of war. In Admiral King’s opinion, Turner guarded his
secret knowledge “with supererogatory zeal. ” ‘5
JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
Before entering into the amphibious phases of World War II and the part
played in the amphibious Pacific campaigns by Richmond Kelly Turner, a
brief record of his influence on the overall United States military command
structure for the war seems appropriate.
On 28 January 1942, the Joint Board discussed the creation of a Super
Joint General Staff, which had been recommended in broad terms by the
WMrs. R.KT to Miss LLT, letter, 7 Dec. 1941.
“ RKT to CNO, OP–12–CTB, letter, Ser 0140112 of 5 Dec. 1941
ffiKirz.g’s Record, p. 328.