Office of the Historian

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

Washington, November 7, 1957—6:52 p.m.

1511. Joint State–Defense message. Manila’s 1653,2 450, 449,3 Department’s 649.4 Appreciate your views on probability early resumption base negotiations if Garcia administration returned to power. We agree fully that US interests best served by playing down new discussions as much as possible and by avoiding at all costs sending any US special delegation which would focus press attention and ensure reactivation of Philippine panel.

You therefore authorized inform Serrano US wants discuss bases questions through normal diplomatic channels between Embassy Manila, and Philippine Department Foreign Affairs and would appreciate Philippine agreement to this procedure. As to timing of such approach Department suggests you may wish in line second paragraph your telegram defer until after elections.

FYI: We agree your idea that as required experts and technicians from Department or Defense could properly be temporarily assigned as advisers to Embassy staff. End FYI.

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.56396/11–157. Secret. Drafted in SPA, cleared in draft by Quarles and Mein, and approved by Jones. Repeated to CINCPAC, CINCPAC for POLAD, CINCPACFLT, CINCPACAF, CINCPACREPPHIL, COMNAVPHIL, and 13th Air Force.↩
  2. Supra.↩
  3. See footnote 2, supra.↩
  4. Dated August 29, not printed. (Department of State, Central Files, 711.56396/8–257)↩