796.00/11–2051: Telegram
The Chargé in Manila (Harrington) to the Secretary of State 1
1840. Emb officers have discussed recent elections2 with Nacionalista Party Pres Sen Rodriguez, Senators-elect Laurel and Verano3 and other Nacionalista Party leaders who in agreement on fol points:
They unanimously agree most important factor in making elections free and honest and thereby resulting in Nacionalista victory was US attitude. They are unanimous praise of Magsaysay and several indicated their belief Magsaysay’s presence in cabinet due to US.
Delgado and Rodriguez have both told us Nacionalista must take stand for reparations. Laurel frankly admitted that this was domestic politic issue and that it was essential to demand reparations because of public opinion. However, they both said that problem required thorough study and that they wld predict their members of senate wld not permit the issue get out of hand and that slow and deliberate consideration was essential. When asked what Phils wld have to gain by refusing to ratify treaty Laurel stated Phils wld lose very little by refusing to ratify. All Nacionalistas we have talked to feel that some kind of specific commitment by Jap must be obtained before the treaty can be ratified. Verano who is inclined to be emotional sticks to the one point that there must be reparations. Delgado told [indecipherable] that Nacionalistas wld reiterate their reparations demand when treaty was submitted to Senate but wld vote to ratify with reservations. Nacionalistas assure us there has been no party caucus on this question and we do not believe majority have discussed it seriously or at length with Recto who will probably also be member of new Senate. Recto influence considerable and we fear he may be for rejection.
It is suggested that Dept may wish to consider advisability of informal discussions between our mission in Tokyo and [indecipherable] Jap auths concerning possibility of definite Jap commitment to Phils within terms treaty. Even if such commitment did not go beyond a token payment in services it wld probably aid in obtaining Nacionalista approval of treaty in Senate.
Our relations with Nacionalistas are at moment excellent because of their interpretation of our part in elections. At same time Quirino is convinced that admin must embark on program of major social and econ reforms. In view these circumstances we believe present is [Page 1585] appropriate for US to push for reforms contemplated in Foster-Quirino agreement particularly land reform and labor legislation.
Rptd info Tokyo 52.