694.001/8–951: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Philippines (Cowen) to the Secretary of State
priority
579. Further talk Romulo this afternoon fol Romulo’s talk reaffirms opinion Embtel 569 Aug 91 that Phils will probably accept draft treaty as modified Deptel 4812 and 483 Aug 83 subject concurrence Quirino’s fifteen man comite which will meet noon tomorrow. At outset this afternoon’s talk Romulo mider instructions Quirino made final effort leave door open for monetary reparations which provided opportunity for me to read to him entire text Deptel 470, Aug 74 and to tell him that any further discussion or proposals on monetary reparations now or later utterly useless.
Romulo will not press for inclusion phrase “such as” Embtel 569 Aug 95 but now asks deletion words “account of” first sentence art 14 (a) (1) as subj to interpretation that production, salvaging and other work shall be chargeable.
If this proposal accepted, the language of art 14 through para one is as fols:
“(a) It is recognized that Jap shld pay reparations to the allied powers for the damage and suffering caused by it during the war. Nevertheless it is also recognized that the resources of Japan are not presently sufficient, if it is to maintain available economy, to make complete reparations for all such damage and suffering and at the same time meet its other obligations.
Therefore, (1). Japan will promptly enter into negots with allied powers so desiring, whose present territories were occupied by Jap forces and damaged by Jap, with a view to assisting to compensate those countries for the cost of repairing the damage done, by making available the services of the Jap people in production, salvaging and other work for the allied powers in question. Such arrangements shall avoid the imposition of additional liabilities on other allied powers, and, where the manufacturing of raw materials is called for, they shall be supplied by the allied powers in question, so as not to throw any fon exchange burden upon Japan”.
On subject unilateral, Romulo urges that, if treaty cannot include council, Phils would like to have something that resembles council such as relationship of PhilCUSA to ECA so that opposition cannot claim Phils in less dignified position than Australia and New Zealand. Suggest Dept cable its language for bilateral in response treaty suggestion Embtel 529 Aug 6.6
If agreement is reached with Phils regarding reparations clause, public statement suggested Deptel 470, August 7 unnecessary. I will cable draft of short release as soon as agreement seems likely.
- Not printed, but see footnote 5 below.↩
- Ante, p. 1247.↩
- See footnote 2 to telegram 566, from Manila, August 8, p. 1248.↩
- See footnote 5, p. 1246.↩
- In telegram 569 Ambassador Cowen had stated in part: “Romulo has asked for inclusion words ‘such as’ before words ‘by making available’ in Deptel 483 August 8 so phrase will read ‘such as by making available’” (694.001/8–951)↩
- Ante, p. 237.↩