840.48 Refugees/1729: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy)
545. For Pell and Achilles. Your 976, July 11, 8 p.m. The Mindanao Exploration Commission has about completed its investigations and has submitted to the President’s Advisory Committee a brief summary of its report as follows:
“For healthy and successful European refugee settlement in tropics, land of moderate elevation suitable for agricultural and/or industrial development is required. Survey disclosed no single large tract unoccupied public land in Mindanao meeting these requirements. Detached lesser tracts generally suitable are: (1) Uao Banisilan region of Lanao and Cotabato, 40,000 acres, elevation 1,000 to 2,000 feet; (2) Buldun Barrera region, Cotabato, 10,000 acres, 1,000 to 1,500 feet elevation, with heavy rainfall and requiring drainage. Mission feels Uao Banisilan, Buldun Barrera tracts, totaling 30,000 acres arable land but requiring 30 and 10 miles, respectively, road construction costing $300,000 to $400,000, possibly under cooperation with Commonwealth Government, are best public land possibilities.
“Best area for large-scale European settlement is Bukidnon plateau, having several hundred thousand acres and already accessible by national highway. This area, however, is almost entirely under private grazing and agricultural lease from Government, which have generally 20 years to run with 25–year renewal privilege. Have offers on two such properties and believe others could be acquired at moderate prices. Mission feels best procedure from all angles is to acquire, if [Page 138] possible, Bukidnon leased areas to amount to about 100,000 arable acres for ultimate 10,000 refugees seeking public land in other areas only to meet any deficiency. Mission recommends action be initiated looking towards acquirement by purchase of land leases on Bukidnon plateau. President Quezon consulted and indicates his general approval. In this connection, Acting High Commissioner reporting on same subject to Secretary Hull. Suggest you see his radio. Mindanao Exploration Commission. Jones.”
In connection with the above-quoted summary, the Acting High Commissioner informed the Department as follows:
“Before I received your telegram mission had had conference with President Quezon after which they had prepared above mentioned report. Yesterday I conferred with President Quezon on this matter. The report was read. President Quezon said ‘not much land can be given to refugee settlement in Uao Banisilan region because the Government has to reserve a great portion of that land for Moros. With respect to the area in Bukidnon plateau which is leased to private parties for cattle grazing, the government will cooperate in securing the transfer of these leases to refugees at reasonable prices.’
“Above supports mission’s primary recommendation. I hope this is sufficient for your purposes.”
Inasmuch as President Quezon has indicated to the Acting High Commissioner that the only public land suitable for refugee settlement must be reserved for the Moros, the Exploration Commission’s findings, as stated in the first paragraph of the summary quoted above, have no practical value. With regard to the second portion of the Commission’s findings, the Department and the organizations concerned feel that no publicity should be given to the details contained therein, lest the owners of property raise their prices. Any publicity that may be required should be confined to a brief statement to the effect that, according to the Mindanao Exploration Commission’s preliminary report, which has the approval and assurance of the cooperation of the Commonwealth authorities, it seems possible that about 10,000 refugees can be settled on the island of Mindanao in areas suitable for agricultural and/or industrial settlement by such refugees.
With regard to your desire for more definite information concerning President Quezon’s statement that substantial funds were available for general development purposes, the Department is of the opinion that it is undesirable to emphasize this portion of President Quezon’s February statement. It is clear from the first condition contained in that statement that he never intended that these funds were to be used for financing the settlement of refugees. Moreover, these funds are still the subject of legislation pending in American Congress and President Quezon cannot with propriety at this time make any detailed statement concerning their use.