Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Asia and the Pacific, Volume VI, Part 2

796.13/2–2351: Telegram

The Chargé in the Philippines (Terry)¹ to the Secretary of State

confidential

Manila, February 23, 1951—4 p. m.

2512. Deptel 1907, February 21 and Embtel 2505, February 22.² In our reftel February 22 we discussed factors which may have precipitated Quirino’s order that Romulo returned Philippines. Following partial report of probably underlying causes:

We gather from Checchi that considerable pressure has built up within last couple weeks during which Congress has been stalling on minimum-wage and tax legislation. He has during this period been telling leaders both Houses Congress that ECA cannot begin extending aid till Philippine Government fulfills its side of bargain by passing such legislation. He cited as evidences such pressure facts that: (1) while his off-record remarks still recently were kept confidential, beginning about ten days ago such remarks to Congress seemed to have been leaked to press in distorted versions apparently calculated undermine stand he has been taking; and (2) Quirino, seeing Checchi in audience listening to his Rotary speech last night, addressed himself to Checchi with seemingly interpolated remarks to effect that Philippines cannot raise all the pesos 565,000,000 in taxes expected by ECA and that US should not be so hard on Philippines.

We suspect that Quirino’s feeling that he and his government are under US pressure—coupled with frequent press reports that we are rushing or will rush arms aid to Vietnam and Formosa—had something to do with his ordering Romulo return here to report on alleged lack progress his mission to secure speeded flow US arms aid by calling Romulo back for that alleged purpose at time when Romulo has been outstandingly helpful to our cause in UN, Quirino may feel he is drawing attention to fact that he is not without bargaining cards in dealing with us and may believe he is transferring some of the pressure he is under back to us by pointing up fact that US like Philippines has not been speedy in living up to mutual commitments.

Terry

1. Ambassador Cowen had left Manila for the United States on February 16 (on home leave).

2. In telegram 1907 to Manila, February 21, the Department had stated in part: “Romulo advises he has just reed angry telephone call from Quirino ordering him return Manila at once. According to Romulo Quirino says he is badly needed Manila and has been spending time in US working on UN affairs but without benefit to Philippines since Amer aid continues to be only a trickle and Huk situation now so critical will be impossible for Phil Gov to hold out much longer. Romulo states he will stall on instrs long as possible”. (796.13/2–2151)

   The President had announced his sudden decision to recall Minister Romulo at a cabinet meeting held February 20 (Manila time) and news of it appeared in the Manila papers February 21. In telegram 2505 from Manila, February 22, the Embassy had reported in part: “Vice President [Lopez] says he was present at Cabinet meeting and that Quirino made remark to effect that Romulo should not be off in US enjoying himself at time like this but should be here ‘suffering with us’ He insisted that dissatisfaction re US military aid is not at base of recall—as Romulo can report as well by cable as in person. Rather, he laid it to jealous personality of Quirino who dislikes seeing Romulo gathering headlines. We suspect precipitating factor was stand taken by Carlos Romulo, Junior, in recent debate at Far East University that President should not have suspended writ habeas corpus”. (796.13/2–2251)