341. Editorial Note.
On November 13, 1975, in anticipation of President Gerald Ford’s visit to the Philippines, the United States Embassy in Manila sent telegram 15944 reporting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos’s suggested topics of conversation: “(A) U.S.-R.P. mutual security relations, (B) U.S.-R.P. economic relations, and (C) U.S. military facilities in the Philippines.” (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Staff for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Convenience File, Box 18, President’s Trip to the Philippines and Indonesia)
From December 1 until December 7, 1975, Ford and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger travelled to East Asia and made official visits to China, Indonesia, and the Philippines. On December 6, after participating in arrival ceremonies, Ford and Kissinger met with Marcos and Foreign Secretary Carlos Romulo from 6:15 until 7 p.m. at Malacanang Palace in Manila. The next morning, Ford and Kissinger met with Marcos and Romulo from 9:30 until 10:30 on the Philippine presidential yacht Ang Pangulo as it cruised to Corregidor Island. (Ford Library, President’s Daily Diary, December 1–7, 1975) No memoranda of conversation from these meetings have been found. On July 9, 1976, Thomas Barnes of the National Security Council Staff informed Brent Scowcroft, the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs, “We have checked with Peter Rodman, and unfortunately there are no notes from the President’s December meeting with Marcos to determine what, if anything, the President agreed to.” (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Backchannel Messages, Box 7, Southeast Asia, 7/76, Outgoing)
On November 13, 1975, in anticipation of President Gerald Ford’s visit to the Philippines, the United States Embassy in Manila sent telegram 15944 reporting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos’s suggested topics of conversation: “(A) U.S.-R.P. mutual security relations, (B) U.S.-R.P. economic relations, and (C) U.S. military facilities in the Philippines.” (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Staff for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Convenience File, Box 18, President’s Trip to the Philippines and Indonesia)
From December 1 until December 7, 1975, Ford and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger travelled in East Asia and made official visits to China, Indonesia, and the Philippines. On December 6, after participating in arrival ceremonies, Ford and Kissinger met with Marcos and Foreign Secretary Romulo from 6:15 until 7:00 p.m. at Malacanang Palace in Manila. The next morning, Ford and Kissinger met with Marcos and Romulo from 9:30 until 10:30 on the Philippine presidential yacht “Ang Pangulo” as it cruised to Corregidor Island. (Ford Library, President’s Daily Diary, December 1-7, 1975) No memoranda of conversation from these meetings have been found. On July 9, 1976, Thomas Barnes of the National Security Council Staff informed Brent Scowcroft, the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs, “We have checked with Peter Rodman, and unfortunately there are no notes from the President’s December meeting with Marcos to determine what, if anything, the President agreed to.” (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Backchannel Messages, Box 7, Southeast Asia, 7/76, Outgoing)