896.00/8–3050: Telegram

The Chief of Mission, United States Economic Survey Mission to the Philippines (Bell) to the Secretary of State

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Belto 30. UrTobel 29, August 29.1 In our opinion there is no urgency requiring passage of No. 7600. Funds made available will not deal with ills of Philippines but may aggravate them.

There are 18 million poverty stricken Filipino citizens who need and deserve help from US far more than the relatively few to be benefited by passage of this bill. Most of latter have enjoyed fantastic profits.

We feel that recommendations our report should first be considered before further action on this bill.

Earnestly hope our views can be conveyed to committee without any publicity prior to departure of other members and the staff on September 6. Publicity here would definitely interfere with our winding up report.

[Bell]
  1. Not printed; it reported that the Department of State had informally requested Congressman John Kee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, to defer the intended reporting out of the proposed additional Philippine war, damage legislation (H.R. 7600). Bell’s urgent views on the matter were requested (896.00/8–2950).