796.001/2–1551
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Philippines 1
No. 186
The Secretary of State informs the Officer in Charge that the Embassy’s secret despatch No. 1194 of February 15, 1951,2 entitled “Countermoves Against Philippine Communist Party” has been read with great interest. The authors of the despatch are commended on their initiative in developing a plan of action. The Department has been thinking along similar lines and expresses below its opinions on the various numbered proposals presented in the Embassy’s despatch.
I. Honest and Peaceful Holding of November 1951 Elections
This problem was previously brought up in the Embassy’s despatch No. 1009 of January 15, 19513 and was answered by the Department’s instruction No. 141 of February 9, 1951.3 We believe it essential that the Philippine Government and people realise that the United States will be watching very closely both the 1951 and 1953 elections and that a repetition of the coercion and graft practiced in the 1949 elections would result in our giving serious consideration to the suspension of further economic and military aid. The Embassy’s comments on how to convey this impression without seeming to threaten would be appreciated. We are tentatively of the opinion that it would be better not to state this position to any Philippine Government official but rather to convey the idea by means of discreet conversations with editors of the local newspapers. We have found Quirino particularly sensitive to the press. It would be extremely interesting, [Page 1537] also, to note the reaction of readers in the provinces to a suggestion that might appear, for example, in the Philippine Free Press to the effect that Army detachments should be used to maintain order at polling places.
II. The Philippine Government Should In So Far As Possible Be Influenced To Follow More Enlightened Policies
We hope to insert as many technicians as possible in the different Philippine Government departments. Although their influence will depend largely on their own ability and tact, they should be able to make graft and corruption at least more difficult. In the more flagrant cases we might withhold funds earmarked for the particular department in which the “anomaly” is occurring.
We agree that Romulo would be the best man to have at Quirino’s elbow. He expects to return to the Philippines in the near future.
III. Land Redistribution
We strongly believe that the only way to beat the Communists is to show our ability to carry out under democratic processes those reforms they advocate which are worthwhile. Land redistribution is one such reform and should be combined with a resettlement program in Mindanao. The Department would appreciate any information the Embassy might have on the cost of buying up and redistributing estates in central Luzon and any suggestions the Embassy may wish to make in this regard. Although the ECA budget has made provision for a resettlement program, no funds have been allotted for the purchase of estates. However, since the projects listed were illustrative only, the fact that the budget did not include a land distribution program does not prevent one from being carried out. We believe, however, that a very careful, detailed survey of the lands and number of people affected would have to be made first.
IV. Land Reclamation
The draining of the Candaba swamp would be a dramatic project. The Department will be interested in any studies that may be made as to its feasibility and cost or the possibility of using part of the swamp for fishponds in accordance with paragraph 5 of the Embassy’s telegram No. 3034 of April 4, 1951.4
V. Labor Problems
We believe that considerable progress has already been made in this field: for example, the minimum wage law and the visit to the Philippines of Deverall of AFL and Schular of CIO as reported in the Embassy’s despatch No. 1376 of March 23, 1951.4
[Page 1538]VI. Reforms of Principally Financial Character
(1) Inflation. The tax increases recently enacted, ECA’s plan to import a large quantity of consumers’ goods, and Governor Cuaderno’s recent press statement regarding the increasing of foreign exchange for imports are steps in the right direction.
(2) Import Controls. Commerce, ECA, and State are giving number one priority to the task of finding an import control expert who can be available in time to be of use in the drafting of new import control legislation. We also think experts are needed in the Import Control Bureau itself to improve its efficiency and make corruption more difficult.
(3) Income Tax Enforcement. ECA is looking for experts in this field.
(4) Technical Assistance. We agree.
VII. Military and Quasi-military Suggestions
(1) and (2). The Department hopes that the Embassy can persuade JUSMAG to recommend: 1. formation of plans to safeguard the Philippine armed forces against Communist propaganda and infiltration; 2. stressing catching Huk “expansionista” units.
(3) The Department is discussing with Defense the amendment of the basic directive to JUSMAG so as to permit the assignment of United States officers to duty as field observers and to permit JUSMAG’s expansion as needed. General Hobbs has stated that some such assignments have already been made.
(4) Advice to the Philippine Government on the removal of civilians from areas of operations can best be given through JUSMAG. Has the Embassy discussed this matter with JUSMAG?
(5) We have been informed that JUSMAG already is carrying out covertly “Operation Blotter” designed to acquire loose arms. We would appreciate learning what progress has been made thus far and what suggestions the Embassy has to offer as to larger scale operation of such a program.
VIII. Use of Mass Media.
We are planning to use in fiscal year 1952 approximately $500,000 in Point IV funds on a program to send out young American school teachers, preferably in couples, to rural areas in the Philippines to teach in the elementary schools. We would prefer to concentrate them in one or two areas so that a greater mass impact could be obtained, for example, central Luzon if then possible from a security standpoint, and Negros. Besides teaching in elementary schools these American school teachers would also be able to teach the rudiments of sanitation and improved farming methods to adults, could assist in the distribution of ECA fertilizers, could provide the Embassy with a great [Page 1539] deal of information, and could assist in distribution of USIE materials.
The Department’s A–625 of April 2, 1951,5 in reply to the Embassy’s despatch No. 894 of December 26, 1950,5 discusses the Department’s program for distribution of a limited number of cheap radio sets.
We believe that full use should be made of mass media to present examples of peaceful democratic elections and to emphasize the importance of free elections to free societies. The movie Tuesday in November is an example of this type of material. Naturally, the Embassy should emphasize to its mobile unit operators the absolute necessity of avoiding associating USIE films or other materials with any local political campaigns.
Mass media will also be most important in conveying to the Philippine people the steps being taken by the United States to improve their economic situation. It is hoped that ECA and USIE information officers can work out pamphlets in the simplest language possible to explain to ordinary people just what ECA is and just what the United States Government is hoping to accomplish in the Philippines. It would be most worthwhile to try out such a pamphlet in one of the local languages on a representative group of farm tenants. In view of the low level of literacy, it might be advisable to prepare such a pamphlet for the use of school teachers in explaining our program to their barrio neighbors.
The Department’s exchange of persons program is contributing already to the improvement of the Philippine educational system, principally at the university and teacher training level and more recently at the vocational school level. Future plans include exchange of personnel in the labor field.