328. Letter From President Carter to Philippine President Marcos1
I extend my best wishes to you and to the Philippine people on this important occasion marking the first step toward implementation of the January 7 amendment to the Military Bases Agreement. That amendment emphasized my Government’s recognition of full Philippine sovereignty over the bases and your Government’s willingness, [Page 1060] in view of mutual benefits, to grant certain facilities for use by American armed forces. The Philippines and the United States pursue the common objectives of advancing world peace, regional stability and national independence. We have stood together as comrades in arms in meeting the major challenges to peace of this century. It is my hope that the relations between our two nations will continue to be inspired by the spirit of harmony, understanding and mutual respect which characterized our recent negotiations and that our countries’ historic ties will grow stronger with each passing year.
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 39, Philippines, 1979–1980. No classification marking. The date of the letter is taken from the text printed in Department of State Bulletin, April 1979, p. 22.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears Carter’s typed signature.↩