Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, East Asia and the Pacific, Volume VI

896.06/12–250: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Philippines

secret

Washington, December 2, 1950—4 p. m.

1083. Dept regards Manila port area situation as matter of great importance and while concerned over possibilities labor violence believes principles involved so significant that Phil Govt must meet challenges of racketeering labor bosses and their political supporters. Accordingly at ur discretion Dept suggests that you call to Quirino’s attention labor recommendations Bell Report¹ concerning freedom of trade unions from domination by Govt and racketeering by labor unions, point out Dept’s concern over waterfront situation, and state that effective Phil Govt action at this time wld go long way towards convincing Dept and US Congress of Phil Govt sincerity in implementing Bell recommendations. Dept favors recommendation expressed concluding paras McKelvey memo Nov 20² that Court Industrial Relations shld order holding of election of waterfront employees to determine which union shld represent them. Such union wld then be one to which Delgado³ as co awarded contract wld deal. Vigorous action by Phil Govt to preserve law and order will undoubtedly be necessary during election and subsequently, but current situation is such that only way avoid violence is to surrender to UOEF.⁴

Dept realizes this extremely delicate situation and wishes you to use ur discretion as to means of accomplishing our objectives.

At same time you shld point out again to Quirino that Dept does not regard Figueras as suitable person to carry out labor reforms and to be Secy of Labor (Deptel 865⁵). Attn shld be called to info contained ur 1382 Nov 24,⁶ and cancellation of registration of member union of Fed Free Workers (Ur 1423⁶) as most recent evidence of undesirable interference.⁷

Dept will discuss with Romulo at earliest opportunity urtel 1447.⁸

Acheson

1. Of October 9, p. 1497.
2. Graham M. McKelvey was Labor Attaché to the Embassy in the Philippines. His memorandum under reference here has not been further identified.
3. Delgado Bros., Inc., a Philippine stevedoring firm, operated the United States Military Port of Manila.
4. The Union de Obreras Estivadores de Filipinas (UOEF) was described as a target for criticism for various forms of labor racketeering in despatch No. 1230, February 23, 1951, from Manila, not printed (896.06/2–2351).
5. Telegram 897, October 11, from Manila, not printed, reported that President Quirino had accepted the resignation of Philippine Secretary of Labor Primitivo Lovina and had announced the designation of Under Secretary of Labor José Figueras to serve as Acting Secretary. The Embassy reported that most Philippine labor leaders opposed Figueras, that Figueras apparently intended forcibly to create a government-controlled labor front, and that he had an unsavory wartime and government service record (896.06/10–1150). Telegram 865, November 10, to Manila, not printed, agreed that the Figueras appointment was unfortunate in view of United States plans to insist that the Philippine Government institute labor reforms in accordance with the recommendations of United States Economic Survey Mission to the Philippines. The Department of State did not feel it could recommend any specific course of action in such a delicate matter, but it authorized ECA Administrator Foster to indicate to President Quirino the official American dismay over the Figueras appointment (896.06/10–1150).
6. Not printed.
6. Not printed.
7. In telegram 1538, December 6, from Manila, not printed, Chargé Chapin reported that he had that day found President Quirino responsive to the considerations mentioned in the telegram printed here and determined on his own account to do away with racketeering and exploitation of labor. There was, however, no intimation by Quirino that he had any immediate plans to remove Figueras (896.06/12–650).
8. Not printed; it reported indications that Figueras was likely to continue in his position as Acting Secretary of Labor, and it recommended that the question be discussed with Foreign Secretary Romulo in the United States (796.13/11–2950).