811B.42/10–1345
The Consul General at Manila (Steintorf) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 24.]
The Consul General has the honor to refer to the Department’s instruction of September 20, 1945, concerning the development of a Philippine Foreign Service. The information contained in this instruction and its enclosures is appreciated.
A number of informal conferences have been held with various members of the Commonwealth Government, including President Osmeña, pointing out the urgent necessity of the establishment of a Philippine Foreign Service in view of the pending independence of the country. President Osmeña took up the matter at considerable length in his message to the last session of the Philippine Congress and in consequence thereof Commonwealth Act No. 683 was passed and approved by the President on September 5 [25], 1945.22 This provides for the organization of an Office of Foreign Relations as an initial step towards the organization of a Department of Foreign Affairs. A copy of the bill is transmitted herewith. The Commonwealth Government also has approved the appointment of a number of individuals to serve with the Department of State for training purposes. Applications are now being taken for these positions and possibly a number may be appointed in the immediate future.
- Official Gazette of the Philippines, vol. 41, No. 7, p. 549.↩