Office of the Historian

454. Telegram From the Embassy in the Philippines to the Department of State1

Manila, July 21, 1960—4 p.m.

128. For Assistant Secretary Mann from Ambassador. Reference: Your 71.2 I had a preliminary conversation with Sec Serrano this morning on desirability of opening Phil market for US tobacco. Serrano told me that he had a long and good talk with Cooley when he was in Washington in May and added “I believe Mr. Cooley and I understand one another on this”.

Phil Congress will not be in session, barring another special session which unlikely, until late January. Serrano tells me they will need legislation to admit Virginia tobacco.3 Embassy staff and I will press this matter vigorously and keep you informed.

Hickerson
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 411.9641/7–2160. Official Use Only.↩
  2. In telegram 71 to Manila, July 19, the Department informed the Embassy that Congressman Cooley requested that the Embassy ask for access to the Philippine market for U.S. tobacco as a quid pro quo for the recent increase in the Philippine sugar quota. The Department concurred and advised Hickerson to approach the Philippine Government. (Ibid., 411.9641/7–1960)↩
  3. Since the Philippine Government took no action in 1960 to increase the U.S. tobacco quota, American tobacco interests asked the U.S. Government to consider the possibility of exporting to the Philippines under P.L. 480. In telegram 735 to Manila, January 9, 1961, the Embassy was informed that exports of tobacco under Title I of P.L. 480 could be considered. (Ibid., 411.9641/1–961)↩