Office of the Historian

321. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, April 17, 1973.1 2

Washington, April 17, 1973

THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
ACTION

April 17 1973

MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT
FROM: HENRY A. KISSINGER [HK initialed]

SUBJECT: Implications of Southern Philippines Muslim Insurrection for U.S. Interests in Southeast Asia and Possible U.S. Role

At Tab A is a proposed NSSM on implications of the Muslim insurrection in the southern Philippines for U.S. interests in Southeast Asia. The insurrection, which had been a three-year-old low-level communal dispute, flared last fall when the Marcos Administration attempted to collect arms there, as elsewhere in the Philippines, as part of the martial law program to improve civil order. Also, the Philippines has charged that the Muslim ruler of the East Malaysian state of Sabah has been providing arms and other assistance to the Muslim insurgents. If the insurrection continues and expands, it could pose serious problems for long -term stability in the Philippines and for our military base access and for U.S. investment there. Sabah’s interference would contribute another de-stabilizing element in Southeast Asia.

Therefore, I believe it would be useful for us to study the extent of the threat this conflict poses for stability in the Philippines and of the tensions it adds regionally. The study would also consider what role, if any, the U.S. might play in helping the Marcos Administration end the insurrection and in resolving the regional frictions that have resulted from it.

Recommendation:

That you approve the draft NSSM at Tab A.

Approve [RN initialed]
Disapprove

  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H –199, NSSMs, NSSM 180. Secret. Sent for action. Nixon initialed his approval of the recommendation. Tab A, the proposed NSSM, is attached. A signed version is published as Document 323.↩
  2. Kissinger recommended that the President approve a NSSM to examine the insurrection in the southern Philippines.↩