796.5/5–351
Memorandum by the First Secretary of the Embassy in the Philippines (Terry) to the Ambassador (Cowen)
Subject: Notes on reference material pertaining to the MDAP Philippines.
While there is very extensive material in the form of reports, FMACC (now changed to FAC) directives,2 et cetera, it is believed that for purposes of reference the JUSMAG Philippines Semi-Annual Appraisal No. 112.1 dated 1 February 1951,3 contains as complete and succinct a summary of the MDA Program as might be required for your purposes. Additional reports which could be of possible background value consist of the MDAP Progress Reports prepared on a monthly basis jointly by JUSMAG Philippines and the Embassy.4 Special attention is called to the first one of these reports, transmitted to the Department as Despatch No. 334, dated September 11, 1950.
I have gone through all the material on hand and believe the following statement represents a reasonably correct estimate of the situation, and justification for the MDAP in the Philippines.
“The primary end to be served by the MDAP insofar as the Philippines is concerned is the restoration of law and order and the maintenance of internal security. The political and military security of the Philippines is seriously, if not immediately, threatened by the offensive activities of the Hukbong Mapagpalaya Ng Bay an (HMB, or ‘Huks’), a Communist-controlled guerrilla force, the strength of which has been variously estimated at from 7,000 to 20,000 effectives. This force is active throughout much of Luzon and on Panay; during recent months it has appeared to be expanding, in spite of the ever increasing pressure being brought by Government armed forces. The objective of the HMB is the overthrow of the Philippine Government and its replacement by a Communist regime.
“The HMB has not yet indicated that it is able or inclined to wage positional battles against sizeable units of the Philippine Armed Forces. It does, however, have the demonstrated capacity of infiltrating the countryside of Luzon almost at will, to overcome local police opposition in small towns and barrios which it is able to hold until the near arrival of constabulary or AFB reinforcements; strong units of the HMB have seized inadequately-garrisoned provincial capitals for periods of a few hours. By virtue of this military capacity, the HMB has been in a position to obtain needed supplies of foodstuffs, [Page 1541] arms and equipment, and cash; in some of the more remote provinces of Luzon local and provincial officials have been intimidated. In some sections of the Island, extensive, once-productive agricultural lands now lie fallow, because of the fear of the local farmers to work the lands in these troubled areas. Many of these people have flocked to the relative security of the urban areas, with the result that Manila and other, smaller cities have seen a substantial rise in the ranks of the unemployed.”
Perhaps the most serious difficulty being experienced at present under the MDAP is the long delay in receipt of needed items of military equipment. Although the Department of Defense had assured JUSMAG Philippines and the Embassy in January that the FY 1950 Program would either be already shipped or was ready to be shipped, the total receipts of this particular program are only about 85% complete. 1951 Basic and Supplemental are arriving in very small trickles, and some of the most urgently needed equipment, namely vehicles and various kinds of rolling stock can not be expected until the latter part of this calendar year or sometime during calendar 1952. While it is realized that priorities set up by the Department of Defense are based on their decision as to priority of need in Korea, Western Europe, and in other critical areas, it is hoped that when and if the pressure is lessened in other localities this will result in a speeded up program of deliveries for MDAP material to the Philippines.
Reports mentioned in paragraph one were submitted to the Department and can undoubtedly be obtained upon request.
- Ambassador Cowen had left Manila April 28. Mr. Terry was in Washington for consultations in the Department prior to reassignment to the Embassy in Vienna.↩
- Files of the Foreign Military Assistance Coordinating Committee are contained in Lot 54 D 5.↩
- Not found in Department of State files.↩
- These reports, none printed, are filed under 796.5–MAP and 796.5–MSP.↩