Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1943, The British Commonwealth, Eastern Europe, the Far East, Volume III

811B.00/153

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Territories and Insular Affairs (Tydings)¹⁸

Washington, November 8, 1943.

My Dear Senator Tydings: It is my understanding that you will submit a Joint Resolution by which the present President and Vice President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines shall continue in their respective offices until the President of the United States shall proclaim that constitutional processes and normal functions of government shall have been restored in the Philippine Islands. Thereupon the tenure of office of the present President of the Commonwealth shall cease and the Vice President shall become President to serve until such time as his successor shall have been elected and qualified according to the Constitution and the laws of the Philippines.

The Department of State has been asked to comment on this proposal and I desire to state, in connection with the request, that the Department is in sympathy with the purpose of the legislation.¹⁹

Sincerely yours,

Edward R. Stetttnius, Jr.

18. Identical letter sent on November 8 to the Chairman of the House Committee on Insular Affairs (Bell).
19. Enacted as Public Law 186, approved November 12; 57 Stat. 590.