711.56396/11–2454
No. 378
Memorandum of Conversation, by David C.
Cuthell of the Office of Philippine and Southeast Asian
Affairs
Subject:
- Negotiations on Military Bases in the Philippines
Participants:
Ambassador Romulo called today on Mr. MacArthur and on Mr. Robertson to show them a copy of a telegram3 which he had just received from President Magsaysay.
The President said that the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs was being pressed by our Embassy in Manila to enter into the long delayed negotiations on military bases at a very early date. The President is greatly disturbed at the possible results of a resumption of negotiations at this time for two reasons: (1) Because he believes that further public attention to our position on the title issue, which he states is extremely unpopular in the Philippines, would strengthen both the opposition and the Communists; he refers to the Administration’s recent military success against the Communist and fears that some of the ground gained might be lost. (2) He believes that the opposition will attempt, possibly with success, to convince the Philippine public that we will be demanding military privileges in the Philippines in return for agreeing to a satisfactory revision of the Trade Agreement. He requested Ambassador Romulo to make his views known to the Department and to urge that negotiations not be resumed at the present. The telegram contained no indication as to when he thought negotiations should start.
Mr. Robertson and Mr. MacArthur told the Ambassador that the President’s message would receive our most careful attention, and that they would wish to discuss the subject with the Secretary on his return next Tuesday.4 The Ambassador said that he would inquire on the subject next Wednesday.
(Ambassador Spruance has informed us on several occasions that he has discussed the resumption of negotiations with the President [Page 644] himself, not with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. He has reported that the President was willing to begin negotiations in the very near future, removing Senator Recto from the Philippine Negotiating Mission.)