740.00119 PW/11–2646
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Japanese Affairs (Borton)
| Participants: | FE, Mr. Vincent |
| JA, Mr. Borton | |
| Dr. Melquiades J. Gamboa, First Secretary of the Philippine Embassy |
Dr. Gamboa called, at his request, to report that he had received a message from Manila stating that the Philippine Government was desirous of participating in the consultations proposed by the United States Government on preparation of interim directives on the various aspects of the reparations problem. He said, however, that he was requested to obtain answers to three specific questions, namely: where the discussions would take place, the size of the Philippine representation in the discussions, and the extent to which the Philippine members would participate in the discussion.
Mr. Vincent answered that the discussions would take place in Washington, that the Philippines could send as many persons as they desired but that presumably they would have one person as chief representative with advisors and technicians. Dr. Gamboa was also told that Philippine participation would be on the same basis as that of any other country, bearing in mind the fact, that as the United States had responsibility for issuing the directives, naturally it would not wish to be put in a position of issuing a directive with which it did not agree. Dr. Gamboa was also informed that every attempt would be [Page 596] made to achieve as much unanimity as possible in the discussions, but that no formal voting procedure was contemplated.
Dr. Gamboa seemed satisfied with these answers and felt that the acceptance of his Government of the United States proposal to hold consultations was not contingent upon the answers to the questions which he had raised.47
- On December 3 Dr. Gamboa telephoned Mr. Borton to state that his Government had authorized two representatives to consult with Far Eastern Commission members on questions of reparations (740.00119 PW/12–346).↩