Office of the Historian

345. Memorandum From Thomas J. Barnes of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft), Washington, April 12, 1976.1 2

Washington, April 12, 1976

MEMORANDUM
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
URGENT INFORMATION

April 12, 1976

MEMORANDUM FOR: BRENT SCOWCROFT
FROM: THOMAS J. BARNES
SUBJECT: Opening Session of U.S.-Philippine Base Negotiations

Secretary Kissinger and Secretary Romulo chaired the opening meeting of the U.S.-Philippine military base negotiations held in the State Department at 3 p.m. April 12. Ken Quinn attended as NSC representative. A list of all attendees is at Tab A.

The meeting was short with introductory remarks and the tabling of the U.S. draft agreement taking only 25 minutes. Secretary Romulo stressed that while U.S.-Philippine friendship persists, the radical alteration of the world which has occurred in the past ten years has significantly changed the conditions under which our base agreements were first made 30 years ago. Contrary to our expectations, Secretary Romulo did not enunciate any principles or conditions for a continued U.S. presence in the Philippines.

Despite the absence of this statement, Secretary Kissinger then made some initial remarks addressing the major points that we thought the Philippine delegation might stress. Specifically, in addressing the issue of rent, the Secretary said we are opposed to it in principle since if we pay rent in one country we would have to do it in all. Moreover, he added that our paying rent creates the impression that we are not cooperating in a joint security effort. The Secretary then added that we are, however, prepared to look at some type of security assistance package which could take the place of rent. He also mentioned that the issues of Philippine administration of the bases and the naming of a Philippine base commander are addressed in the U.S. draft treaty which he later presented to the Philippine side.

Romulo then read a prepared statement (Tab B) which somewhat surprisingly stressed that U.S. military assistance and U.S. security guarantees were never fully satisfactory to the Philippine side. He added [Page 2] that in view of the ASEAN pledge to pursue peace and minimize relations with the superpowers, the GOP must now seek to adjust its relationship with the United States.

The Secretary, in response, reiterated the need for us to cooperate in maintaining a global balance of power as well as regional stability. He emphasized that we are determined to stand by our friends and to prevent any single country or group of countries from dominating the world. He urged the Philippine delegation to keep these overall goals in mind as we renegotiate our agreement. The Secretary also emphasized the danger to the world which could result if a more isolationist attitude becomes prevalent in the United States. He emphasized the need for our negotiations to work to prevent that outcome.

Romulo then returned to the question of rent and stressed that the GOP does not want to receive a “dole or grant” but rather wishes to receive “just compensation for the use of its bases.” In reply the Secretary again stressed that we have a principle against paying rent in the strict sense of the word, but could consider a multi-year appropriation for foreign assistance in lieu of rent. The Secretary then added that we would deal with the Philippines in the same spirit that we have dealt with Turkey, Spain, and our other allies.

Following this exchange, there was mutual agreement that the negotiations would resume the first week of June in Manila. The Philippines would present us a counterproposal to our draft agreement beforehand. Both sides would endeavor to conclude the agreement by the end of July so that the Secretary could stop in Manila to sign it on his way back from the ANZUS meeting in Canberra August 3 and 4.

The meeting then turned to the question of a joint statement. After 35 minutes of haggling, the two sides agreed to issue the press statement at Tab C which makes the following points:

  • — Secretary Romulo and Secretary Kissinger met to begin negotiations regarding new arrangements between the GOP and the U.S. for the use by the U.S. armed forces of facilities in Philippine military bases.
  • — Both governments expressed their initial view in a cordial atmosphere.
  • — The U.S. presented a draft agreement.
  • — The Philippine delegation proposed that negotiations continue in Manila in early June, and the U.S. agreed.

  1. Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 15, Philippines (4). Confidential. Urgent; Sent for information. Attached but not published are Tab A, an undated briefing memorandum from Habib to Kissinger providing a list of participants at the session, and Tab B, the undated statement of Romulo. Tab C, the press statement, is not attached.↩
  2. Barnes described the opening session of the U.S.-Philippine base negotiations.↩