437. Telegram From the Embassy in the Philippines to the Department of State1
1653. Repeated information CINCPAC,CINCPACFLT, CINC-PACREPPHIL,COMNAVPHIL, PACAF, 13th AF by other means. I assume State and Defense are working on the points in connection with the bases issue set forth in Embtel 449 and 450.2 Although of course nothing is official, present indications are that if the Garcia administration returns to power it will seek to open bases negotiations in some form shortly after inauguration.
In fact, today Serrano told me that in all probability Philippine Government (of course by this he meant if present administration returns to power) would probably seek to initiate discussions on bases issue towards the end of January next year. I told him that during my brief visit home in December I would of course discuss this matter with my government and hoped to bring back with me clear US positions on the various issues involved. I told him, however, I thought the first question to be decided if his government wished to [Page 731] press for renewal of negotiations would be the procedure and manner in which any such negotiations would be conducted. He agreed and we decided that sometime between election and my departure he and I would meet to discuss this aspect in the event the present administration returned to power.
If negotiations on this issue are inescapable, and I believe they will be, it is extremely important at the outset to set the procedures and method of negotiation in advance in order to avoid the difficulties that arose during the Bendetsen mission. According to the almost [unanimous?]3 view of those who participated in the Bendetsen talks, they were prejudiced from the start by the intense publicity which surrounded the discussions, and in particular by the inclusion in the Philippine “Panel” of a considerable number of politicians. I feel very strongly, therefore, that we should seek Philippine agreement in advance that any discussions on this subject should be conducted through diplomatic channels by the Embassy here with the Foreign Office and we should at least on our side definitely avoid the sending of any special delegation. Any experts and technicians from Defense or State which will be necessary for the talks should be temporarily assigned to either Embassy staff or local military commands. I cannot tell whether or not on the Philippine side they will find it possible to dispense with the Panel, but if we make it clear that for the U.S. any such talks will be conducted by the Embassy it would, I believe, materially assist those in the Philippine Government who would like to see the Panel dissolved and negotiations conducted through diplomatic channels.
In anticipation, therefore, of a talk with Serrano and possibly Garcia if he is elected, I would appreciate instructions along these lines concerning the purely procedural aspect of any future talks. I very much hope that when I am home State and Defense thinking on the issues involved will be sufficiently advanced to permit a clear formulation of U.S. position on each of these issues.
On the question of timing Secretary Vargas yesterday mentioned to me the possibility that if elected Garcia might wish to pay a visit to the U.S. in early January. He said that nothing had been decided on this point but he knew Ambassador Romulo had strongly urged it on Garcia.
If Garcia is not elected of course the picture will be entirely changed and the question of bases negotiations might be considerably postponed.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.56396/11–157. Secret.↩
- In these telegrams, August 2, Bohlen recommended that the United States select those unresolved base issues which were urgent from the U.S. point of view and, where appropriate, implement changes unilaterally. Among the pressing issues set forth by Bohlen were land matters relating to the modernization of the U.S. bases in the Philippines. He also suggested that the United States avoid discussion of the “intangible” issues at this time. (Ibid., 711.56396/8–257)↩
- The interpolation within brackets was handwritten on the source text.↩