317. Letter From President Carter to Philippine President Marcos1
I am delighted that Vice President Mondale is visiting the Philippines. I have asked him to convey to you my own personal interest in deepening our bilateral relationship. I was particularly pleased to learn that you rescheduled the commemoration of Corregidor/Bataan2 to coincide with the Vice President’s visit. This event serves to remind us of the depth and durability of those ties which bind our nations together.
I want you to know that the Vice President will be speaking authoritatively for me, and that I attach the utmost importance to the outcome of his talks with you for the interests we share in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
The Vice President will wish to review with you recent developments in U.S.-Philippine relations, and to explore next steps in our productive dialogue. In particular, he will want to review progress in the base negotiations, ways in which the United States may be supportive of Philippine economic development issues, and our mutual interests in the advancement of human rights. I look forward to his report.
Sincerely,
- Source: Carter Library, Donated Historical Material, Mondale Papers, Overseas Assignments—Trip Files, 1977–1980, Box 20, VP’s Visit to the Pacific, 4/29/78–5/11/78: Philippines (5/2/78–5/4/78)—President Carter’s Letter to President Marcos. No classification marking.↩
- Reference is to the annual commemoration in the Philippines of the World War II Battle of Corregidor and the fall of Bataan.↩