Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Southeast Asia, Volume XXII

379. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Sebald) to the Secretary of State¹

Washington, February 21, 1956.

SUBJECT

• President Magsaysay’s Visit

Discussion:

In early January the President invited President Magsaysay to visit the United States, being in Washington from April 4 through April 6.² In a number of exchanges of telegrams with our Embassy Manila and in conversations with Ambassador Romulo, President Magsaysay has made it clear that he does not feel he can come to the United States unless we are prepared to give him something of real importance to the Philippines to take home from the visit.³ The President has failed to understand fully our unwillingness to associate grants of aid or loans with state visits.

It appears that we have reached an impasse, and that we cannot comply with the conditions which President Magsaysay insists are essential. Under the circumstances we believe it would be best if we could reach agreement with President Magsaysay that the question of the visit should not be pursued further, but that we re-examine in the Fall the possibility of a visit being made at a later date, presumably in 1957.

Recommendation:

That you authorize me (1) to give the sense of the foregoing to Ambassador Romulo, asking him to assure President Magsaysay that postponement⁴ of plans for the visit does not indicate any lessening in our high regard for the President, and (2) to inform Ambassador Ferguson of the result of this conversation.⁵

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 796.11/2–2156. Secret. Drafted in PSA, concurred in by Robertson (in substance) and Murphy, and approved by Dulles.
2. In telegram 2320 to Manila, January 6, Ferguson was requested to discuss informally with Magsaysay a possible visit to Washington during that time. (Ibid., 796.11/12–1655)

3. In telegram 2001 from Manila, January 20, Ferguson offered the following observations on the subject of Magsaysay’s proposed visit:

   “I am in complete agreement with Washington’s position that additional aid cannot be related Magsaysay’s visit. On other hand, I can understand and sympathize with Magsaysay’s position. He feels that since his domestic prestige is based upon personal and dynamic pro-Americanism, visit to United States without bringing back to Philippines some evidence of tangible accomplishment beneficial his country (a traditional concomitant of such visits) would be interpreted locally as an unsuccessful mission susceptible exploitation by his political opponents. As he expresses it, ‘see what he got for being a good friend of America’.” (Ibid., 796.11/1–2056)

4. Dulles crossed out “cancellation” and substituted “postponement.”
5. Robertson discussed the proposed Magsaysay visit with Romulo on March 1, and they both agreed that the President’s visit should be postponed. (Memorandum of conversation by Cuthell, March 1; Department of State, Central Files, 796.11/3–156) In telegram 2982 to Manila, March 1, Robertson informed Ferguson of the conversation with Romulo. (Ibid.)