362. Memorandum From the Secretary of State to the President 1

SUBJECT

  • Signature of Revision of 1946 United States–Philippine Trade Agreement

It would be beneficial to our relations with the Philippines for the President to designate a Special Representative for the purpose of signing the revision of the 1946 United States–Philippine trade agreement together with a protocol and related exchanges of notes, authorized in Public Law 196, 84th Congress, 1st Session approved [Page 606] August 1, 1955,2 and in Public Law 419, 83rd Congress, 2nd Session, approved June 18, 1954.3

There is wide public interest in the agreement in the Philippines, particularly as it has been publicized as terminating residual United States economic controls over the Philippines. The signing of the agreement furthermore symbolizes to the Philippines the establishment of a new economic relationship between the two countries based on the principle of mutuality. The designation of a Special Representative would be an indication to the Philippines of the outstanding importance which the United States attaches to this agreement. It is understood that President Magsaysay’s Special Representative and Ambassador at Large, General Carlos Romulo, will sign the agreement for the Philippines. The signing will take place in Washington.

It is recommended that Mr. James M. Langley, who so ably led the negotiations for the United States and who was assigned primary responsibility for the support of the legislation before the Congress, be designated as the Special Representative of the President with full power to sign the revised agreement, together with a protocol and related notes, and that the attached document dated August 29, 1955 be signed for this purpose.4

John Foster Dulles 5
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 411.9641/8–3055. Confidential. Drafted in PSA.
  2. 69 Stat. 196.
  3. 68 Stat. 419.
  4. Not attached and not found in Department of State files. President Eisenhower approved this memorandum, however, and on September 6 the revised Trade Agreement was signed in Washington by Langley and Romulo. (HAS 3348)
  5. Printed from a copy that bears this stamped signature.