Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Far East, Volume VIII

811.24596/10–1546: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Philippines (McNutt)

top secret

Washington, October 15, 1946—3 p.m.

494. Dept having seen copy Warx 82865 authorizes you proceed basis outlined keeping constantly in mind State, War, Navy desire not impose conditions which Phil Congress cannot accept. Discussions War, Navy reveal desire retain only minimum essential supply peacetime garrison forces but what constitutes such minimum may well be subject further discussion along with question disposition in whole or part McKinley, PACUSA site A⁹² Nichols Field, Engineer Island, Earnshaw docks and HIW urtel 519 Oct 7.⁹³ Efforts made persuade War reduce requirements these items and wide discretion has been given War Dept representative negotiations. It is hoped that this discretion will be exercised in a way that will soon produce agreement which Roxas can sign with assurance Congress will ratify action.

State, War, Navy agree not advisable transfer negotiations Washington this time. Possibility settlement basis herein described should be thoroughly explored. Suggestion in Warx 82865 that if minimum requirements not acceptable Dept will be requested press for acceptance by recourse to other Phil negotiations including loans is believed impractical and highly inadvisable. No approaches in this direction should be made without specific authorization from Dept. Your comments would be appreciated.

Warx 82865 is result of secretarial level discussion with War, Navy (urtel 569 Oct 15⁹⁴). Substance urtel 519 brought attention Secys War and Navy some time ago.⁹⁵

Acheson

92. Site “A” was adjacent to Nichols Field.
93. Not printed.
94. Not printed.
95. At the meeting on October 2 of the three Departments, Secretary of the Navy Forrestal had expressed disappointment over lack of progress and had urged vigorous reminders that base negotiations were necessarily connected with proposed military assistance. At the meeting on October 9 the base question was discussed. Mr. Acheson inquired whether War and Navy Departments could reexamine their requirements with a view to dropping some requests for installations in and near Manila. It was agreed that experts of the three Departments endeavor to work out a rock-bottom position, taking especial account of Philippine sensibilities respecting facilities in the Manila area. On October 23 it was agreed to draw up instructions to negotiate on the basis of a relinquishment of some 3,000 acres in the Manila area during the next three years. (811.0011 Three Secretaries/1–2446)