Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Asia and the Pacific, Volume VI, Part 2

796.5/4–2551

Memorandum by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs ( Merchant ) to the Secretary of State ¹

secret

[ Washington ,] April 25, 1951.

Subject: Stationing of Additional American Troops in the Philippines

Discussion

The Department of State draft of the new Asia policy paper, presently being considered by the NSC,² contains a recommendation that additional American troops be stationed in the Philippines. The Department of Defense representatives opposed this recommendation. Twice since the beginning of the year Mr. Rusk has discussed the matter with General Marshall who on both occasions has expressed his approval, though he seemingly has not so informed his staff who profess unawareness of his views. I believe it would be desirable to seek some clarification on this question.

The question of stationing American troops in the Philippines has been casually considered over the past year or two. Last summer the MDAP Mission to Southeast Asia recommended that it be given the most serious consideration. President Quirino on his own initiative expressed his wholehearted approval to the chairman of the mission. I believe the suggestion has enough merit to warrant detailed consideration. Although much progress has been made on security questions in the Philippines, I think it must necessarily be some time before action now being undertaken can be expected to have decisive effect. In the meantime, there are few things which the Communists could do in Asia which would be more damaging to the American Far Eastern position than to throw the Philippines into total chaos. Any such eventuality in view of our unlimited commitment to the Philippines could well compel us to the final disastrous³ alternative of military reoccupation which, for obvious reasons, should be avoided if at all possible. I believe that stationing American troops in the Philippines would be a desirable preventative step.

Recommendation

That you sign the attached letter to the Secretary of Defense, requesting his views on this problem.⁴

1. Memorandum drafted by Mr. Melby.

2. Reference is to a draft of what became NSC 48/5, “United States Objectives, Policies, and Courses of Action in Asia”, approved by President Truman May 17. For text, see p. 33.

   The draft mentioned has not been found in Department of State files.

3. This word is pencilled out in the source text.
4. There is no indication in Department of State files that the mentioned draft letter, or a later draft of May 10, also attached, was sent to Secretary Marshall.