Philippines
314. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, January 5, 1973, 3:30 p.m.
Nixon and Romulo discussed affairs in the United States, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1026, Presidential/HAK Memcons, January–March 1973. Secret; Nodis. At the time Nixon and Romulo met, the Philippines had been under martial law since September 1972 and the Filipino army was fighting rebels in the Sula Archipelago.
315. Telegram 0823 From the Embassy in the Philippines to the Department of State, January 22, 1973, 1000Z.
The embassy analyzed events in the Philippines.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–192, NSSM 155 [2 of 2]. Secret; Exdis. Repeated Priority to DOD and CINCPAC.
316. Memorandum From the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Eagleburger) to Secretary of Defense Richardson, Washington, March 15, 1973.
Eagleburger described the Muslim insurgency in the Philippines.
Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–78–0001, Philippines, 091.3, 15 March 1973. Confidential; Noforn. The bottom of the memorandum is stamped, “Sec has seen. 17 Mar 1973.”
317. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, March 16, 1973.
Kissinger described for Nixon the consensus that resulted from an SRG meeting regarding the Philippines and urged him to approve a NSDM to be released at a later date.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–192, NSSM 155 [2 of 2]. Secret. Sent for action. Tab A, an undated proposed NSDM on U.S. policy toward the Philippines, is attached but not published. The President initialed his approval of the draft NSDM, which was subsequently released. See Document 318. The Laurel-Langley Agreement, which governed U.S. tariffs on Philippine exports and the privileges of U.S. investors, expired on July 4, 1974.
318. National Security Decision Memorandum 209, Washington, March 27, 1973.
Kissinger issued NSDM 209 concerning U.S. policy toward the Philippines.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–239, NSDMs, NSDM 209, Philippines. Secret. Copies were sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs. The text of NSSM 155 is in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XX, Southeast Asia, 1969–1972, Document 254.
319. Special National Intelligence Estimate 56–73, Washington, March 28, 1973.
The estimate examined the implications for the United States of the Muslim insurrection in the southern Philippines.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 557, Country Files, Far East, Philippines, Vol. IV, January 1972–December 31, 1973. Secret; Controlled Dissem. The CIA and the intelligence organizations of DOS, DOD, and the NSA participated in the preparation of the SNIE. All members of the U.S. Intelligence Board concurred in the estimate except the representative of the FBI who abstained because the subject was outside of his jurisdiction. In a memorandum, March 20, Holdridge recommended that Scowcroft ask the CIA to produce a SNIE on the Muslim uprising in the southern Philippines. (Ibid.)
320. Memorandum From the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Eagleburger) to Secretary of Defense Richardson, Washington, April 7, 1973.
Eagleburger sent Richardson a memorandum on the U.S. attitude toward the Philippine claim to Sabah.
Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–78–0001, Philippines, 370.64, 7 April 1973. Confidential. Sent for information. Captain Robert Shaid, USN, prepared the memorandum. At the top of the first page of the memorandum, Richardson wrote, “Noted. Sounds right. ELR 4/12.” Attached but not published is an undated background sheet on the “Sabah Claim Issue.” Eagleburger sent the memorandum in response to a comment, attached but not published, that Richardson wrote on SNIE 56–73; see Document 319.
321. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, April 17, 1973.
Kissinger recommended that the President approve a NSSM to examine the insurrection in the southern Philippines.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H –199, NSSMs, NSSM 180. Secret. Sent for action. Nixon initialed his approval of the recommendation. Tab A, the proposed NSSM, is attached. A signed version is published as Document 323.
322. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, April 18, 1973.
Kissinger recommended that the President authorize him to approve an AID program to assist in the reorganization of the Manila police administration.
Source: Library of Congress, Henry Kissinger Papers, CL 297, Memoranda to the President, April 1973. Secret. Sent for action. Concurred in by Timmons. Nixon initialed his approval of the recommendation that AID assist in the reorganization of the Manila police administration. Attached but not published is Tab A, the memorandum from Kissinger to Rogers, April 26, as sent.
323. National Security Study Memorandum 180, Washington, May 1, 1973.
Kissinger asked the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and the CIA to study how the insurrection in the southern Philippines affects U.S. policy in Southeast Asia.
Source: Library of Congress, Henry Kissinger Papers, CL 316, National Security Study Memoranda, October 1971–May 1973. Secret. Copies were sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On July 26, Hummel, the Acting Chairman of the East Asian and Pacific Interdepartmental Group, sent a study to the NSC Review Group in response to NSSM 180. The study provided options in response to four questions: how the U.S. should react to GOP requests for increased security assistance to help end the insurgency; whether the U.S. should use economic assistance to encourage the GOP to be more responsive to the needs of Philippine Muslims; whether the U.S. should encourage other countries in the region to help stabilize the situation; how the U.S. should treat the Philippine claim to Sabah. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files [H-Files], Box H–199, NSSMs, NSSM 180)
324. Memorandum From the Deputy Director of Operations of the Central Intelligence Agency (William Colby) to the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Godley), Washington, July 6, 1973.
The CIA assessed the political and economic situation in the Philippines.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–192, Folder 1, NSSM 155 [2 of 2]. Secret; Sensitive. Richard Kennedy also received a copy. Theodore Shackley, the Chief of the Far East Division, Directorate of Operations, CIA, sent this memorandum on behalf of Colby.
325. Telegram 998 From the Embassy in the Philippines to the Department of State, January 26, 1974, 0540Z.
The Embassy reported on the Philippine position regarding the Spratly Islands.
Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Repeated for information to Saigon, Peking, Taipei, and CINCPAC. The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 islands or reefs in the South China Sea surrounded by rich fishing grounds and, potentially, by gas and oil deposits.
326. Telegram 020401 From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Philippines, January 31, 1974, 0311Z.
The Department conveyed the U.S. position regarding the Spratly Islands.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 558, Country Files, Far East, Philippines, 1 January 1974. Secret; Cherokee; Priority; Nodis; Eyes Only Ambassador. Drafted by Hummel; cleared by Lord and Scowcroft; and approved by Kissinger.
327. Minutes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, January 31, 1974, 3:08 p.m..
Kissinger and his staff discussed the Spratly Island dispute.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, E5177, Box 2. Secret. According to the summary of decisions that proceeds these minutes, Kissinger decided at this meeting “That we do not want to do anything re the Spratly Islands that would encourage the PRC to believe it has a free hand to take military action or lead our allies to believe we are needlessly alarmed at the prospect of such action.”
328. Minutes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, March 13, 1974, 4 p.m..
Kissinger and his staff discussed the insurgency in the southern Philippines.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, E5177, Box 2. Secret.
329. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, April 24, 1974, 1610–1640.
Sullivan and Schlesinger discussed U.S. relations with the Philippines.
Source: Washington National Records Center, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 330–77–0054, Philippines, 333, 13 May 1974. Confidential. Drafted by Bigley and approved by Peet.
330. Minutes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, May 9, 1974, 8 a.m..
Kissinger and his staff discussed Philippine claims to the Paracel Islands.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, E5177, Box 3. Secret. According to the summary outline that precedes the minutes, “Secretary wants to be advised before we discuss application of defense treaty with Philippine Government. Amb. Sullivan should not raise this subject.”
331. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Springsteen) to the Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft), Washington, July 3, 1974.
Springsteen reported on bilateral economic and security negotiations with the Philippines.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–239, NSDMs, NSDM 209, Philippines. Confidential. On April 17, 1975, the NSC staff logged this memorandum and marked it OBE.
332. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford, Washington, November 7, 1974.
Scowcroft asked the President whether Mrs. Ford should meet with Imelda Marcos.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 15, Philippines (1). Secret. Sent for action. Ford initialed his disapproval of a meeting between his wife and Mrs. Marcos.
333. Minutes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, February 6, 1975, 8 a.m..
Kissinger and Habib discussed the Philippines’ request for weapons to combat the insurgency.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, E5177, Box 6. Secret. Telegram 1667, February 6, from Manila describes GOP weapons requests. (National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files) Telegram 2806, March 5, from Manila reports on the successful fulfillment of most of the GOP requests. (Ibid.)
334. Telegram 4661 From the Embassy in the Philippines to the Department of State, April 14, 1975, 0842Z.
The Embassy warned that the Philippines was reassessing its security arrangements with the United States.
Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Priority; Limdis. Repeated for information to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo, CINCPAC.
335. Backchannel Message 170 From the Ambassador to the Philippines (Sullivan) to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft), Manila, April 16, 1975, 0321Z.
Sullivan alerted Scowcroft to the Philippine reassessment of security relations with the United States.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Backchannel Messages, Box 7, Southeast Asia, 4/75, Incoming. Confidential; Eyes Only.
336. Memorandum From W.R. Smyser of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, April 21, 1975.
Smyser recommended that the United States reassure Marcos.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 15, Philippines (2). Secret. Sent for immediate action. Although neither recommendation was initialed, a handwritten notation on the first page reads, “Taken care of per Gen S.” Attached but not published are Tab A, the draft backchannel telegram from the White House to Simon; Tab B, telegram 2681, April 18, from the Department of Treasury to the Department of State; and Tab C, telegram 090638, April 20, to Manila.
337. Memorandum From Jan Lodal of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft), Washington, May 7, 1975.
[1 page not declassified.]
Source: Library of Congress, Henry Kissinger Papers, Chronological File, 1969–1975, TS 9, May 1975. Top Secret; Sensitive.
338. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, July 10, 1975, 10:30 a.m.
Scowcroft and Sullivan discussed relations between the United States and the Philippines.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 15, Philippines (3). Secret; Sensitive. Scowcroft’s talking points, July 9, from Smyser are in the Library of Congress, Henry Kissinger Papers, Chronological File, 1969–1975, TS 10, July 1975.
339. Memorandum From John Froebe of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, August 8, 1975.
Froebe recommended that Scowcroft refuse a short notice meeting between Mrs. Marcos and Mrs. Ford.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 15, Philippines (3). Secret. Sent for action. Scowcroft initialed his approval of the sending of a draft State cable to Sullivan. Attached but not published are Tab A, the draft cable to Sullivan, and Tab B, the August 7 backchannel telegram from Sullivan. A handwritten notation on the first page indicates that at 10:30 p.m. on August 8, the NSC staff directed the Department of State to send the telegram.
340. Minutes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, September 22, 1975, 8 a.m..
Habib told Kissinger about a cut in U.S. aid for the Philippines that the White House had approved.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, E5177, Box 8. Secret.
343. Telegram 81789 From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Philippines, April 5, 1976, 2357Z.
The Department of State reported on a meeting between Habib and Virata that covered economic aspects of the U.S.-Philippines relationship.
Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Limdis. Repeated to the MTN Delegation in Geneva and to CINCPAC in Honolulu. Drafted by Willner, Country Officer for the Philippines; cleared by Edmond; and approved by Habib. The memorandum of conversation is in the Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Staff for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, Convenience Files, Box 10.