Office of the Historian

360. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (McConaughy) to Secretary of State Rusk0

Washington, September 7, 1961.

SUBJECT

  • Philippine War Damage Bill (H.R. 8617) Put Over to Next Session by House Rules Committee

The House Rules Committee yesterday voted 9–4 with one abstention not to refer the revised Zablocki Philippine War Damage Bill to the floor during this session. The Committee then voted unanimously to put the Bill over for consideration during the next session.

Ambassador Romulo this morning pleaded in the strongest terms that you issue a brief statement, primarily for use in the Philippines, expressing regret that this Administration supported Bill did not get to the House floor during this session, and reassuring the Filipino people of our continuing warm and affectionate regard.

The Ambassador, who appears to have given President Garcia virtual assurance that he would secure passage of the Bill, points out that in the Philippines disappointment will be keen and press reaction strong. The Ambassador’s sense of urgency is evidently personal as well as official. He subsequently has also called the President with a similar request. The White House Staff is recommending that the President issue a statement along the lines of attachment No. 1. An alternate version prepared in SPA is included as attachment No. 2. The White House will be in touch with your Office before releasing any statement.1

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 211.9641/9–761. Confidential. Drafted by McFarland and cleared by Emmons, Steeves, and John P. White, Legislative Management Officer, Bureau of Congressional Relations.↩
  2. Both attached but not printed. The White House released a statement by the President in support of the bill providing payment for Philippine war damages on September 8; see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1961, p. 833.↩