374. Editorial Note
On December 29, Admiral Radford and Secretary of the Navy Charles S. Thomas, who were visiting several countries throughout [Page 628] the Far East, arrived in Manila. That evening Magsaysay gave a formal dinner in their honor. After dinner, Radford asked Magsaysay if he would authorize Ambassador Romulo to conduct negotiations with Radford in Washington regarding the military base issue. Magsaysay replied in the affirmative. No record of this conversation has been found, but the substance of the discussion is summarized in a letter from Benjamin Bock, Attaché at the Embassy in Manila, to Cuthell, January 3, 1956. (Department of State, SPA Files: Lot 63 D 51, Property Rights Folder Number 1)
Radford had suggested holding the negotiations in Washington at an October 24 meeting between Departments of State and Defense representatives, but his recommendation was not endorsed at that meeting. (See Document 369.)