358. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Philippines1
626. Additional to penultimate sentence our 610.2
As matter of principle and in practice Department wishes avoid associating grants of US aid or loans with visits by Chiefs of State to US. Such visits should stand on their own merits and association of aid with state or official visits creates unfortunate precedents. Loans and grant assistance must be carefully considered to determine if they are useful and appropriate and in conformity US policy objectives.
When asking Magsaysay for firm answer re visit you may give him substance our thinking this subject and explain this does not mean decision reached his proposal which still under consideration.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 411.9641/8–1955. Secret; Priority. Drafted in PSA; approved in draft by Sebald and in final by Frederick E. Nolting.↩
- Telegram 610, August 12, informed the Embassy of continuing efforts to obtain a decision as to the availability of funds for Magsaysay’s rural development program. It also expressed apprehension that Magsaysay had not yet reached a final decision on his visit to the United States since considerable advance planning was necessary for a State visit. (Ibid., 411.9641/8–1255)↩