385. Memorandum on the Substance of Discussion at a Department of State-Joint Chiefs of Staff Meeting, Pentagon, Washington, March 30, 1956, 11:30 a.m.1
[Here follow a list of 27 persons present, including Radford, Taylor, Burke, Murphy, and Robertson, and discussion of unrelated subjects.]
With respect to the situation in the Philippines, Mr. Robertson said that the Secretary had been very disappointed to find President Magsaysay in an extremely resentful and petulant mood. He was not the Magsaysay of a year ago, and the Secretary’s party learned later that he had received advice from some of his own entourage that the way to deal with Americans is to act tough with them. The Secretary and his party found Magsaysay either uninformed or misinformed on every subject discussed; in many ways he seemed the prisoner of his entourage. He sees very few Americans and apparently has no American friends of any intimacy. Either he is not being well informed by Ambassador Romulo here or he forgets what he is told. Mr. Robertson said that, instead of getting stronger like Diem,2 Magsaysay seems to be getting weaker all the time and his state of mind is very disturbing to us. He is obsessed with the idea of being the personal leader of his people and sees as many as 1,000 visitors a day, with the result that he has no time left for governing his country. Unfortunately, he has not developed a talent for governing. It was pointed out, however, that he does have great personal popularity, and Admiral Radford commented that, although he is undoubtedly a serious problem to us today, we should not forget that he is a real power with his people. Admiral Radford remarked that the unfortunate aspect is that he continues to be built up all over southeast Asia as a leader and as one of the principal exhibits of American friendship in Asia. This would make the impact all the stronger if Magsaysay should suddenly turn on us or if we get into acrimonious public disputes with him. The Admiral commented that an American ambassador is badly needed in the Philippines. Mr. Murphy and Mr. Robertson said that we have selected one of our best career officers for the post and that he will be going out shortly.3 Admiral Radford remarked that we cannot afford to make a mistake in our representation there at this time.
[Here follows discussion of unrelated subjects.]
- Source: Department of State, State–JCS Meetings: Lot 61 D 417. Top Secret. No drafting information is given on the source text. A note on the title page reads: “State Draft. Not cleared with any of the participants.”↩
- Ngo Dinh Diem, President of the Republic of Vietnam.↩
- Albert F. Nufer was appointed Ambassador to the Philippines on May 10.↩