By reason of the Axis blackout of free institutions, the administration of national defense is an urgent problem, opening out new and difficult situations of many kinds arising from new forms of "total war." Unless an early and decisive defeat is inflicted upon the Axis Powers, we must contemplate farflung warfare, declared or undeclared, military, economic, diplomatic, of a new and total type, hitherto unfamiliar to mankind. This contest will involve a sweeping reorientation and reorganization of administrative practice in many directions by keen and energetic minds, many of whom will be administrators.
In dealing with social forces moving with incredible velocity, as at the present time, the judgement and capacity of the administrator on the job will inevitably be of very great moment.
Modern Warfare Different
The kind of world struggle now breaking upon us involves far more than the old-time mobilization of an army and its distant support with men, munitions and provisions. Modern war places the civilization population in the front line of defense. Civilian as well as military administration is called upon for personnel, plans, management of situations as in London and Berlin, which are not described in the books. Invention and improvisation are imperative. There may be no time for legislatures to convene or for courts to decide. Competent and energetic administrative staff must carry the load for the time.
But our modern contest is fought not merely with military weapons of the old and new types, but with economic explosives as well. Organizational devices-are now directed toward the mobilization of the entire resources of the nation against forces aiming to annihilate or subdue us. Export-import control, systems of barter, blocked currencies, manipulated exchanges and credit instruments are types of the means in question; and these devices in turn rest upon administrative management of men and materials.
Democratic Counterattack Needed
Total national forces assembled in massive fashion and directed against individual nations are difficult to withstand. We do not propose to adopt totalitarian principles or methods based upon them, but in order to defend ourselves successfully we must contrive our policies of counterattack. Our new democratic policies will call for administrative management of very high quality-superior personnel, superior fiscal management, superior planning, superior methods and practices-blending together the highest available skills of industrial management, military management, public administration; and summoning ability to meet emerging situations for many of which there will be found no precedents.
Sound Management Required
Demobilization of emergency efforts and the return to stabilization again-is likewise a task of fundamental importance, a task to which we must look forward and for which we must plan before the new situation leaps out at us and demands a solution.
At such points, the interrelations of army administration, civil administration and private administration are of the highest consequence to the welfare of our citizens. Without sound management, the structure of society will bog down and flounder, but skilled personnel and practices will aid immeasurably in reconstruction and readjustment. Otherwise, peace may bring calamities as hard to bear as those of a war, or a war-tension period.
Democracy Can Be Efficient
There is no inherent conflict between high ideals of democracy and high administrative capacity. On the contrary, they are rooted in the same fertile soil of reason and faith in the future. But it is important to see to it that nothing stands in the way of their, union.