The word "homeland" was construed to mean the United States, the homeland of the deceased. In many cases, the next of kin resides in foreign countries. This act allows, where the next of kin resides in foreign countries, the Secretary to send these remains to other countries other than the United States.

With regard to returning the unidentified remains, there are many cases where there are mass burials overseas or group burials resulting from the destruction of tanks and planes to the extent it was impossible to separate the bodies or to individually identify the remains. Some of these group burials contained remains of Allied personnel, making their disposition a matter requiring negotiation with foreign

countries.

Undoubtedly, the desires of the next of kin will further complicate "the disposition of remains in group and mass burials.

Consequently, the Secretary of War requests authority to make final interment either overseas or in the United States in order to logically dispose of each group or mass burial. He believes that the permanent interment overseas of unidentified remains will be more acceptable to the American public and would save the Government at least $1.300.000.

Senator BYRD. Who believes that?

Mr. GALUSHA. The Secretary of War, sir. He thinks he should have latitude to leave the unidentified remains overseas and should have latitude in these mass burials to determine whether they should be returned or not.

He says it is impossible to separate them and bring them back to this country.

The CHAIRMAN. I have known of one particular case where there were five boys buried and four of the families wanted to leave the remains where they were and one wanted to bring them home. In this particular case, they did not know which ones were which. You would have to bring them all home.

So, this bill, as I understand it, will allow the Secretary of War to make the decision.

Mr. GALUSHA. That is right, sir, and to leave the unidentified remains overseas; whereas, the original bill said he would bring back the unidentified remains to this country. He said by leaving the unidentified remains there, it would save this country $1,300,000. He believes that it would be more acceptable to the people of this country to leave them there.

The CHAIRMAN. This bill does not in any way change the authority for the next of kin to bring the identified remains home.

Mr. GALUSHA. None whatever; it is just the same.

The CHAIRMAN. General North, does the War Department recommend this bill?

Mr. GALUSHA. The bill goes a little bit further. The part General Norton is objecting to is in another part of the bill. This bill also recognizes that not all the remains of World War II dead will be returned to this country.

The Secretary of War states that various economies in operation will result if permanent overseas cemeteries are established concurrently with the return of the remains to the homeland. Thus, if he can buy cemeteries when he is digging these bodies up overseas and move them all out at once and clean up a place, he can save money by

doing that. He asks for authority to buy land overseas and to establish national cemeteries overseas.

Senator BYRD. Have they not already done that?

Mr. GALUSHA. They have in some instances, but additional cemeteries will be required. We will need some in other countries, too, sir. We fought in this war in countries where we did not fight in World War I.

In the original bill it says:

All activities herein provided for are hereby made a responsibility of the Secretary of War.

The Battle Monuments Commission feel that this bill does not adequately take care of them, and they have suggested amendments to the bill in accord with the functions now given to that Commission.. The CHAIRMAN. Do you mean the Battle Monuments Commission as headed by General Pershing?

Mr. GALUSHA. That is right, and of which General North is the Secretary, and Senator Maybank is a member of that Commission.

These are the amendments which that Commission recommends be made to the bill and which the War Department has concurred in. It has to do with the establishment of these cemeteries.

It amends section 2 by adding:

except as expresslý reserved to the American Battle Monuments Commission by section 9 of this Act.

Then it adds a new section 9:

The American Battle Monuments Commission shall be solely responsible for the permanent design and construction of the cemeteries to be established in foreign countries under section 5 of this act and of all buildings, plantings, headstones, and other permanent improvements incidental thereto. The Secretary of War is authorized to undertake such temporary construction as will be necessary for the accomplishment of this act and to maintain such cemeteries in a suitable condition until such time as the functions of administration thereof shall pass to the American Battle Monuments Commission in accordance with section 12 of Public Law 456, Seventy-ninth Congress, or any other law.

Senator BYRD. Is the same provision about the cemeteries in World War I?

Mr. GALUSHA. It is in accord with the functions of the Battle Monuments Commission.

Senator MAYBANK. In World War I, they were formed with General Pershing, General Marshall, former Senator Reed of Pennsylvania, and the Commissioners always looked after the battle monu

ments overeseas.

STATEMENT OF BRIG. GEN. THOMAS NORTH, SECRETARY, BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

General NORTH. By inadvertence, it would appear the function or functions with respect to the cemeteries were given to the Secretary of War. Previously, by an informal undertaking between the Quartermaster General and the Battle Monuments Commission the Quartermaster General proposed that, according to the law, his functions be limited to the return of the dead and the establishment of those permanent cemeteries which are to remain overseas. Then, at that point the American Battle Monuments Commission would begin to take over to perform its functions, given in its basic law, to erect architectural work therein.

Senator MAYBANK. I might say the Quartermaster General and the Battle Monuments Commission have already agreed on the sites of all the cemeteries. It was agreed to about a month ago, was it not, General?

General NORTH. Yes.

The CHAIRMAN. We have a general from the Quartermaster Corps. Will you please make a statement to us on your position?

STATEMENT OF BRIG. GEN. GEORGE A. HARKAN, MEMORIAL DIVISION, OFFICE OF THE QUARTERMASTER GENERAL

General HARKAN. The point in question in this is that we have sent out to the next of kin some 75,000 poll letters. The return from those poll letters indicates that 76 percent want the bodies returned to the United States, leaving 24 percent overseas.

The system of handling these cemeteries overseas is this: The Quartermaster General will obtain the land for the permanent cemeteries and will bring to the United States those bodies requested by the next of kin. We will then recasket the bodies overseas that are to be left there and move them into a location to be the permanent cemetery. We will put that ground in the best temporary condition that we can. We will then turn it over to the Battle Monuments Commission, who will make the permanent construction in those cemeteries, namely, the marble crosses, the chapels, and so forth.

The CHAIRMAN. Then you are in full accord with adding these amendments as suggested by General North.

General HARKAN. That is correct. There is a thorough understanding of the line of demarcation between the Memorial Division and the Battle Monuments Commission.

The CHAIRMAN. Then you are fully in accord with the bill as it passed the House, after we have this amendment incorporated. General HARKAN. That is correct, sir.

Senator MORSE. I move it be reported.

Senator KILGORE. Could I ask a question, Mr. Chairman?

The CHAIRMAN. Senator Kilgore.

Senator KILGORE. Does the basic act provide that the Quartermaster General shall secure the sites for the permanent cemeteries?

General HARKAN. Yes.

Senator KILGORE. That is fixed in the basic act?

General HARKAN. Yes, sir.

Senator KILGORE. There is no question of this one sentence in here authorizing the Secretary to undertake a temporary construction. There will be no temporary sites. There will be permanent sites, and only temporary construction undertaken to get them in shape until permanent construction can go on.

General HARKAN. That is correct; and the land has been obtained by treaty. It will not cost anything for the land. We have taken that up with the French and the other governments. It will not cost anything for the land. We are getting that land for nothing.

The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the bill will be reported as amended.

(Thereupon, at 12: 15 p. m., an adjournment was taken, subject to the call of the Chair.)

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