It would be used only to the extent absolutely required by military necessities.  In fact, experience in Great Britain and in other Nations at war indicates that use of the compulsory powers of national service is necessary only in rare instances.

This proposed legislation would provide against loss of retirement and seniority rights and benefits.  It would not mean reduction in wages.

In adopting such legislation, it is not necessary to discard the voluntary and cooperative processes which have prevailed up to this time.  This cooperation has already produced great results.  The contribution of our workers to the war effort has been beyond measure.  We must build on the foundations that have already been laid and supplement the measures now in operation, in order to guarantee the production that may be necessary in the critical period that lies ahead.

At the present time we are using the inadequate tools at hand to do the best we can by such expedients as manpower ceilings, and the use of priority and other powers, to induce men and women to shift from non-essential to essential war jobs.

I am in receipt of a joint letter from the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy, dated January 3, 1945, which says: 

“With the experience of three years of war and after the most thorough consideration, we are convinced that it is now necessary to carry out the statement made by the Congress in the joint resolutions declaring that a state of war existed with Japan and Germany:  That ’to bring the conflict to a successful conclusion, all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.’

“In our considered judgment, which is supported by General Marshall and Admiral King, this requires total mobilization of our manpower by the passage of a national war service law.  The armed forces need this legislation to hasten the day of final victory, and to keep to a minimum the cost in lives.

“National war service, the recognition by law of the duty of every citizen to do his or her part in winning the war, will give complete assurance that the need for war equipment will be filled.  In the coming year we must increase the output of many weapons and supplies on short notice.  Otherwise we shall not keep our production abreast of the swiftly changing needs of war.  At the same time it will be necessary to draw progressively many men now engaged in war production to serve with the armed forces, and their places in war production must be filled promptly.  These developments will require the addition of hundreds of thousands to those already working in war industry.  We do not believe that these needs can be met effectively under present methods.

“The record made by management and labor in war industry has been a notable testimony to the resourcefulness and power of America.  The needs are so great, nevertheless, that in many instances we have been forced to recall soldiers and sailors from military duty to do work of a civilian character in war production, because of the urgency of the need for equipment and because of inability to recruit civilian labor.”