396.1 MA/9–354: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Philippines (Spruance) to the Department of State1
Secto 4. Third session working group, September 2 afternoon.
Meeting opened with distribution by Philippine delegation of draft declaration entitled “Draft of a Pacific Charter.” Text same as that in SEAP D–82 except that in paragraphs 5 and 6 phrase “self-government or independence” substituted for “self-rule and independence”, and in last paragraph words “and the Southwest Pacific” are deleted. Draft was presented as adjunct to treaty and as expression of concern of countries in Southeast Asia with problem of freedom and independence as well as with threat of Communist aggression. Hilaly (Pakistan) stated that something along lines of Philippine draft would meet with support of his government.
US delegation called attention of meeting to primary task of getting treaty in shape for Ministers by Saturday target date, and hoped delegates could begin consideration of treaty draft article.
Working group began article-by-article consideration working draft No. 33 (see SEAP D–2/1a note: some addressees may not yet possess reference document. Full text as reported to Ministers by working group will be cabled when ready, perhaps within 36 hours).
Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty.
Preamble
Paragraph 3.
At Philippine suggestion, deleted “to promote stability and well being in treaty area” and inserted “and freedom” after “peace”.
At UK suggestion inserted “treaty” before final word “area”.
[Page 833]Paragraph 4.
Placed “Communist” in brackets for resolution by Ministers.
Regarding paragraph 4, all delegations except US favored elimination of word “Communist”. US delegation suggested that word be bracketed and set aside to permit further discussion draft to proceed. Phleger presented concise explanation US position, pointing out that word “Communist” in preamble is related its use in Article IV. It was pointed out that treaty not intended apply in event conflict between signatories or between signatories and non-Communist countries in treaty area. Allen (UK) then restated UK position that it preferred to omit word “Communist” and stated that any armed attack in treaty area would be regarded by UK as threat, and that UK would act to meet common danger. Allen said material to change that treaty had aggressive intent.
Article I.
Approved.
Article II.
Discussed three proposed changes. Will begin Friday morning session with consideration this article.
The content of this telegram indicates that it was prepared by the U.S. Delegation to the Manila Conference.
Telegram repeated for information to Bangkok, Karachi, New Delhi, Saigon, Tokyo, Canberra, Wellington, London, and Paris, and by pouch to Colombo, Djakarta, Phnom Penh, Rangoon, and Vientiane. Telegram repeated for information to CINCPAC via military channels; the Department was requested to pass it to the Department of Defense.
↩- SEAP D–8, Aug. 25, includes a text of the “Declaration of Principles” as received by the Department from the Philippine Embassy the previous day. (Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 348) It is virtually identical to the text transmitted in telegram 534 from Manila, Aug. 22, p. 777.↩
- Dated Aug. 24, p. 784.↩