611.9631/12–3147
The Ambassador in the Philippines (O’Neal) to the Secretary of State
Sir: I have the honor to report that the office of President Roxas released the following statement to the press on December 19, 1947, concerning the trade agreement between the United States and the Philippines:
“The President has expressed great satisfaction this afternoon when he read the statement made by President Truman at a press conference in Washington yesterday, giving assurances that the preferential trade agreement between the Philippines and the United States would not in any way be altered by any decisions which might be made at the ITO conference in Havana.42 It would be recalled that President Roxas protested vigorously against attempt in connection with the ITO Charter to modify the trade preferences between the Philippines and the United States for the duration of the trade agreement, and that he had instructed Secretary Abello, who is now head of the Philippine delegation in Havana not to sign any agreement which might in any way disturb our preferential trade with the United States or prejudice the interests of the Philippines.
“The President expressed appreciation of the attitude of President Truman and remarked that he is grateful to Ambassador O’Neal with whom he and the Vice-President had conferred on this subject for his cooperation in bringing this matter to the attention of the President of the United States.”
At the same time, the Department of Foreign Affairs released the following telegram which it received on December 18, 1947, from the Philippine Embassy in Washington:
“2129 Reurad 4286 President Truman at press conference today flatly denied UniStates has any intention abandoning its treaty under [Page 1126] which Philippines gets certain preferential treatment from UniStates. President declared there is not a word of truth in any report that the Administration has in mind abandoning this treaty. He added it would not abandon the treaty as long as he was President.
“State Department transmitted Ambassador O’Neal’s message American Delegation Havana. Before Truman made statement reaction of Division Commercial Policy Department informally expressed to us was that on basis of Draft Charter approved Geneva there should be no ground for apprehension in this regard as under article 16 paragraph 2 subparagraph b preferences granted Philippines pursuant trade agreement will not be eliminated. They suggest there might be misunderstanding on interpretation. We have arranged for conference tomorrow between Embassy representatives and State Department experts on the subject. Will inform you further.”
On the occasion of a subsequent informal meeting with President Roxas he assured me personally of his appreciation of the prompt and definite action taken by our Government in this regard.
Press comments on the subject have been reported in Embassy despatch No. 1397 dated December 22, 1948.43
Respectfully yours,