387. Memorandum From the Acting Secretary of State to the President1
SUBJECT
- Military Base Negotiations with the Philippines
We have agreed with the Philippine Government that negotiations on pending land questions related to our bases in the Philippines will start shortly after the arrival in Manila of Ambassador-designate Nufer.2 We hope to obtain from the Filipinos the right to use certain new land areas which the Defense Department regards as necessary to permit optimum development of the bases. We plan to return to the Philippines a number of bases which we no longer need, and to withdraw our claim to title to all the lands which we now own. Defense has felt that we cannot withdraw this claim in advance of negotiations, or until we are convinced that the Filipinos will provide the required new land for our use without cost to us. We have agreed with this position, and our instructions to the Ambassador [Page 648] are based upon it. It is hoped that the negotiations will be completed by next Fall.
Because Magsaysay already knows that it is our intent to return title to the properties, it is unlikely that he would find this an incentive to come to the United States. It seems inescapable that his primary interest has been, and continues to be, a large increase in our financial aid.
- Source: Department of State, SPA Files: Lot 63 D 51, Property Rights, Folder Number 1. Secret. Drafted by Cuthell and approved by Sebald. In April 1956, the Office of Philippine and Southeast Asian Affairs was reorganized; it was divided into an Office of Southeast Asian Affairs, headed by Young, and an Office of Southwest Pacific Affairs, headed by Bell.SPA received jurisdiction over Philippine Affairs and Cuthell remained the Officer in Charge of Philippine Affairs.↩
- Nufer presented his credentials to President Magsaysay on July 20.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this stamped signature.↩