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

811.24596/12–1346

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador to the Philippines (McNutt), Temporarily in Washington

top secret
No. 146

Washington, December 13, 1946.

Sir: There is enclosed a copy of SWNCC 340/1²⁰ concerning this Government’s decision to effect a substantial withdrawal of United States armed forces from the Philippines. SWNCC 340/1 was approved informally by the State–War–Navy Coordinating Committee on December 12, 1946.

In accordance with recommendation 5b of this document, you are requested to present to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines on behalf of this Government, as a basis for negotiations between the two Governments, the draft agreement concerning military bases which constitutes Appendix “C” of the document in question. It is understood of course that the negotiations with regard to this draft agreement will be on an ad referendum basis. Authorization for you to sign the agreement on behalf of this Government will be sent to you subsequently, when the progress of the negotiations indicates that a mutually acceptable conclusion will be reached.

Very truly yours,

For the Secretary of State:

John H. Hilldring

20. Not printed; it was dated December 11.