Military Policy Committee
1942 group to plan using the atomic bomb
The Military Policy Committee was set up in September 1942 to supervise the operation of the Manhattan Project run by General Groves as the members of the policy group (Vice-president Henry A. Wallace, Secretary of War Henry Stimson and General George C. Marshall) had many other duties and could not give the time for adequate supervision. Groves objected to Stinson’s proposal for a committee of seven or nine members as he preferred a committee of three; he could keep three people well informed. So it was set up with Bush or Conant as alternates for chairman plus Rear Admiral William R. Purnell of the Navy and Groves. Later Stinson decided that the Army member should be Wilhelm D. Styer not Groves.
Scientists were paid (after consultation with the Military Policy Committee) at the salary they were already receiving. This caused problems in recruiting specialised staff, as they could not be compensated for living in a remote locality like Los Alamos (this was more of a problem with scientists rather than engineers). The pay of those formerly paid for a nine-month year was increased to pay for the full twelve months. However this meant that Oppenheimer who had been paid by a state university originally received much less than some of his subordinates who came from large Eastern schools. Groves decided to make an exception for Oppie and increased his salary to be equal to that of the others (without consulting him).
The Military Policy Committee was superseded by the Interim Committee of nine civilians in May 1945.
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