Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Southeast Asia, Volume XXII

396. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Philippines¹

Washington, July 18, 1956—7:16 p.m.

191. Reference is made to Department’s instruction A–574 of June 22, 1955.² Since the issuance of that instruction several developments have occurred which make it necessary to revise further the terms of reference for forthcoming negotiations with the Philippines on military bases.

Mr. Karl R. Bendetsen has been named Special Representative for Philippine base matters.³ Mr. Bendetsen has been given broad authority to act on behalf of the State and Defense Departments during these negotiations. He will be accompanied by a personal staff and will be assisted by Admiral Thomas L. Sprague.CINCPAC and COMPHILCOM (US) will provide such other detailed military assistance as may be required.

The objectives set forth on page 1 and 2 of the referenced instruction remain as stated. A revised list of areas now desired by the U.S. forces in the Philippines will be provided by Mr. Bendetsen, together with a restatement of the areas which we are prepared to relinquish. The new areas should not, however, be added to those listed in Annex A, but should be treated as additional areas as contemplated in Article I (3) and Article XXVI of the MBA. The current land requirements of the Department of State will be provided by telegraph shortly.

With regard to requests by the Philippines for changes in the text of the 1947 Bases Agreement, as noted in the referenced instruction any request for modification should be resisted and reported to the Department. We would at the same time be prepared to discuss with the Philippine representatives any measures which might be taken by administrative action by the U.S. to alleviate specific problems causing concern to the Philippine Government the solution of which might aid in the consummation of the current negotiations, provided proposed solutions do not derogate from essential U.S. control of the base areas. You are authorized to discuss any such suggestions raised by the Philippine Government and are requested to report them to the Department together with your recommendations thereon.

With regard to U.S. position on the release of title, referred to in the first two paragraphs of page 3, referenced instruction, as indicated in the joint Magsaysay–Nixon statement, we have now agreed in principle to the relinquishment of all title papers and title claims to all areas whether to be retained or turned over to the Philippine Government. Mr. Bendetsen is authorized to determine, in consultation with you, the time and method of transfer of title and all title papers held by the United States to all land areas used either in the past or presently as military bases, except those areas which may now or will be used by the United States for its diplomatic and consular establishment, and, after such determination, to make such transfer.⁴

Detailed instructions contained in paragraphs 3, 4, 5 and 7 of page 3 of referenced instruction remain valid.

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.56396/7–1856. Secret. Drafted in SPA and OSD; cleared by Robertson, Phleger, and Bendetsen; and approved by Dulles. Repeated to CINCPAC.
2. Document 352.
3. Formerly Under Secretary of the Army, Bendetsen was jointly appointed to this position by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense. He arrived in the Philippines on July 28.
4. The following sentence was deleted by Dulles at the request of Under Secretary of Defense Robertson: “This decision should be forwarded to the Department for approval.”