896.00/10–2350
President Truman to the President of the Philippine Republic (Quirino)1
My Dear Mr. President: Through Ambassador Cowen at Manila I am sending you the Report of the United States Economic Survey Mission to the Philippines. At your request the Mission, under the leadership of Mr. Daniel W. Bell, made as thorough a study as possible in the short time permitted of economic conditions in the Philippines and gave its recommendations for a general course of action which I believe will make possible a stable and prosperous Philippine economy.
The Report is in exactly the same form it was presented to me on October 9. Unfortunately other commitments and particularly my conference with General MacArthur on Wake Island2 delayed my giving this matter my personal attention.
My Government is now carefully studying the Report in order to arrive at an official position on the recommendations contained therein, and I am sending it to you for your Government’s consideration and study. The Report is not a blue-print containing all answers to the complicated problems of the Philippines. It does, however, provide our Governments with a basis on which to work. After you and your Government have had an opportunity to consider the Report, I trust there may be discussions between representatives of our two Governments. From these discussions I would hope that there could be an understanding as to measures which the Philippines would be prepared to undertake. I would regard such an understanding as requisite to the formulation of recommendations to the United States Congress.
Our two nations have been the closest of friends over a period of more than half a century. Our relations have been marked by a spirit of straightforwardness and candor in our dealings with each other. I earnestly hope that we can continue in this same spirit.
Since the economic well-being of the Philippines is of great importance to the American people as well as to the Philippine people, I believe that the facts of this Report should be freely communicated to both. Until the facts are so communicated rumors and speculation will only confuse our joint efforts. I am convinced that the Report should be released promptly after its presentation to you. Full public discussion [Page 1507] in the democratic tradition will contribute to our joint efforts to find the best solutions to the problems that confront us.
Sincerely,
- Telegram 772, October 26, to Manila, not printed, transmitted the text of this letter which had been signed by President Truman. Ambassador Cowen was authorized to deliver the text of this letter, together with copies of the Report to President Truman by the Economic Survey Mission to the Philippines (p. 1497), to President Quirino (896.00/10–2950). Counsellor of Embassy Vinton Chapin delivered this letter and copies of the Report to President Quirino on the morning of October 28.↩
- Regarding the conference under reference here, see the editorial note, p. 1503.↩