<--PREV Doc #318  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #320 Document #319; July 15, 1953 To Elpidio Quirino Series: EM, AWF, International Series The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XIV - The Presidency: The Middle Way Part II: Settling into "the long pull"; May 1953 to August 1953 Chapter 5: "So much to do in the world"   Dear Mr. President:1 In Article II of the Mutual Defense Treaty signed at Washington on August 30, 1951, our two Governments undertook separately and jointly by self-help and mutual aid to maintain and develop our individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack. The maintenance of United States bases in the Philippines, in accordance with the Military Bases Agreement signed at Manila on March 14, 1947, has contributed greatly towards that end.2 My Government considers, however, that in view of the present world situation, certain of these bases should be enlarged and further developed in order to provide maximum protection for both our countries against armed attack. The necessity for such expansion and development makes it desirable to reach agreement with Your Excellency's Government within the framework of our treaty relationships, which also call for final settlement of outstanding property questions and related matters. Although these questions have been discussed from time to time by representatives of our Governments, we have not yet achieved the mutually satisfactory results required for the most effective advancement of our common interests. In view of the close and friendly relations that have existed between our two countries, I am anxious that no matter which might cause misunderstanding be left unresolved. Accordingly, in the spirit of Article II of the Mutual Defense Treaty, I propose that we seek an over-all settlement and, to achieve that end, would be happy to send to the Philippines a mission for the specific purpose of discussing with a similar body appointed by Your Excellency the expansion and development of certain bases as well as outstanding property and related questions. The mission would be headed by my personal representative who would be assisted by a staff composed of representatives of the various interested departments and agencies of my Government. It would be my hope that the two bodies, acting with full authority within the limits of the existing legislation of our countries, would be able within a short period of time to reach an agreement. If this proposal meets with the approval of Your Excellency, a detailed outline will be made available of the questions which my Government believes should be considered.3 With assurances of my highest regard and personal good wishes, Sincerely 1 Elpidio Quirino had been President of the Republic of the Philippines since 1948. Eisenhower sent this letter, drafted by Under Secretary of State Walter Bedell Smith and cleared by Secretary of Defense Wilson, in response to a State Department memorandum (July 15, AWF/I) dealing with the necessity of acquiring additional lands in the Philippines for the expansion of military bases and the settlement of concurrent legal issues. 2 For the text of the Mutual Defense Treaty see State, United States Treaties and Other International Agreements, vol. 3, pt. 3, pp. 3949-50. For background on the securing of military bases in the Philippines and the resulting controversies see Galambos, Columbia University, no. 424, and Galambos, Chief of Staff, no. 1210. 3 Quirino would answer Eisenhower (Sept. 16, AWF/I) soon after he had returned from an extended health-related stay in the United States. He would state his willingness to cooperate and his particular desire to include for discussion the reconciliation of other issues needing final settlement, especially "the claims and entitlements arising out of the organizational and other arrangements that were effected during the last war concerning military personnel." Eisenhower would respond on November 4 (AWF/I), eight days before Quirino was defeated in his reelection bid, saying that he had instructed Secretary Dulles to establish through diplomatic channels the framework for the discussion of those matters that "might properly be considered." He rejected unequivocally the inclusion of any reference to claims. "I desire to point out," he said, "that, during the eight years that have elapsed since the termination of hostilities, the United States Government has given careful and thorough consideration to all Philippine claims presented within the generous time limit allowed . . . and that the subject was considered closed." The problems inherent in maintaining military bases on foreign soil would continue to plague the two governments for many years (see Stephen Rosskamm Shalom, The United States and the Philippines [Philadelphia, 1981], pp. 99-101, 179; and Bohlen, Witness to History, pp. 451-52). Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Elpidio Quirino, 15 July 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 319. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/319.cfm <--PREV Doc #318  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #320

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