Office of the Historian

796.00/9–2851

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Manila 1

confidential
No. 67
Washington, September 28, 1951.

The Secretary of State refers to the Embassy’s despatches Nos. 1802 of June 152 and 1855 of June 25, 1951,3 concerning courses of action that the United States might take in connection with the forthcoming Philippine elections.

The Embassy expressed its belief that only through a direct approach to the highest government leaders could any substantial results be hoped for leading towards the achievement of honest and peaceful elections in November 1951. The Officer in Charge is, therefore, authorized to make such approaches to Philippine leaders as he deems appropriate and proper.4

The Department commends the Embassy for efforts already made to cooperate with civic organizations in promoting honest elections. In response to the request contained in the Embassy’s telegram No. 599 of August 10, 1951,3 the Department’s public affairs staffs have selected appropriate material concerning participation in and conduct of elections which has been forwarded to the Embassy. Additional [Page 1570] material can be provided in accordance with specific Embassy needs as reported to the Department.

In general, it is believed that material related specifically to the local elections made available to civic groups, such as the “National Free Election Movement,” should be unattributed in order to be most effective and at the same time safeguard the over-all USIE program. Nevertheless, some carefully selected material might be openly displayed in our libraries. Intensive radio and press coverage of exemplary elections held in other democratic countries might also be desirable.

Additional projects which might be sponsored by USIE include preparation of:

1.
unattributed voters’ guides and pamphlets;
2.
cartoon strips on voting procedures;
3.
local radio programs featuring roundtable discussions, quizzes concerning election procedures.

It has occurred to the Department that the Officer in Charge might well have a profitable exchange of views on the elections with the Papal Nuncio,5 if in fact such an approach has not already been made. Embassy despatch No. 47 of July 10, 19516 pointed out that the National Secretariat of Catholic Action has chosen for the October issue of its pamphlet series the topic, “The Use of the Vote in Relation to Social Reforms”.

  1. Memorandum drafted by Mr. Wanamaker and by Paul A. Miller (also of PSA) and cleared by, among others, Mr. Merchant for FE.↩
  2. Ante, p. 1546.↩
  3. Not printed.↩
  4. In a letter of October 16 to Mr. Wanamaker, James D. Bell, First Secretary of the Embassy in Manila, stated in part: “As early as last June and July Andy Olson and I held a series of informal conversations with some 15 or 20 congressional leaders during which we pointed out U.S. interest in the elections and particularly our desire that they be free and honest. We learned indirectly that the sense of these conversations reached all important people in the government including Quirino.… During the first two days of registration, September 28 and 29, Andy Olson went up to Tuguegarao to observe the registration and talked to political leaders of all factions. On the 2nd weekend of registration … I went to Cebu and Bacolod … Andy left yesterday (paying his own way as the Embassy has no funds) for Misamis and other points in Mindanao. My visit to Bacolod resulted in a flood of inquiries of why an Embassy representative was there and precisely what I was doing. I imagine that Andy’s trip will provoke the same wholesome reaction.” (Manila Post Files: 350 Political Reporting) Andrew E. Olson was a Second Secretary of Embassy.↩
  5. Not printed.↩
  6. The Apostolic Delegate to the Philippine Government was Msgr. Egidio Vagnozzi, Titular Archbishop of Mira.↩
  7. Not printed.↩