Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–12, Documents on East and Southeast Asia, 1973–1976

348. Telegram 169597 From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Philippines, July 8, 1976, 2313Z.¹ ²

July 8, 1976, 2313Z

TELEGRAM
Department of State
169597

DRAFTED BY P: DAO’DONOHUE: CHG
APPROVED BY P - MR HABIO
S/S - FVORTIZ
EA-MR GLEYSTEEN
DESIRED DISTRIBUTION
S, P, EA ONLY

P 082313Z JUL 76

FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY MANILA PRIORITY

EXDIS FOR AMBASSADOR FROM HABIO E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS:PFOR, MARR, RP

SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE BASE NEGOTIATIONS REF: MANILA 9671

1. AS A RESULT OF YOUR MESSAGE, I HAVE REVIEWED WITH EA THE STATUS OF THE PHILIPPINE NEGOTIATIONS AND YOUR REQUESTS FOR INSTRUCTIONS. I UNDERSTAND AND SYMPATHIZE WITH YOUR FRUSTRATION OVER THE INEVITABLE DELAYS HERE IN GETTING OUT SUBSTANTIVE RESPONSES TO YOUR REQUESTS. AFTER MY REVIEW, INCLUDING DISCUSSION WITH DEFENSE, I AM CONVINCED THAT WE ARE WORKING AS HARD AS WE CAN TO BE RESPONSIVE. NEITHER HERE NOR IN DEFENSE IS THERE ANY DESIRE TO LET THE NEGOTIATIONS LAG OR TO ENGAGE IN ANY WISHFUL THINKING ABOUT LETTING THE PRESENT AGREEMENT CONTINUE AD INFINITUM. IF WE ARE TO MISS OUR TARGET COMPLETION DATES, WE, LIKE YOU, WANT IT TO BE CLEARLY BECAUSE OF PHILIPPINE NEGOTIATING INTRANSIGENCE NOT OUR INABILITY TO RESPOND PROMPTLY.

2. AT SAME TIME, THE PHILIPPINE POSITION TO DATE HAS NOT BEEN ENCOURAGING, PARTICULARLY IN VIEW OF OUR MUTUAL DESIRE TO REACH AN EARLY AGREEMENT. LIKE YOU, WE WANT A GOOD AGREEMENT FROM BOTH OUR OWN AND THE PHILIPPINE POINT OF VIEW. HOWEVER, WE DO NOT WANT THE FILIPINOS TO BELIEVE THAT WE WILL ENTER INTO AGREEMENT SIMPLY TO MEET A NEGOTIATING SCHEDULE. FURTHER, IT WILL NOT BE EASY HERE TO CONSIDER ANY MAJOR CHANGES IN OUR KEY SUBSTANTIVE POSITIONS UNTIL WE HAVE A CLEARER PICTURE OF THE HARD CORE OVERALL FILIPINO NEGOTIATING POSITION, PARTICULARLY REGARDING MONEY.

3. AT THIS POINT, IT WOULD BE MOST USEFUL TO ME IF, IN NORMAL CHANNELS, YOU WOULD FORWARD YOUR VIEWS ON THE LIKELY NEGOTIATING SCENARIO FOR THE NEXT WEEKS.
KISSINGER

1. Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Priority; Exdis; Stadis. Drafted by O’Donohue; cleared by Vortiz and Gleysteen; and approved by Habib. Telegram 10024 from Manila, July 10, contains Sullivan’s expectations and scenario on the upcoming negotiations and includes his view that any agreement will be expensive for the United States.
2. The Department responded to Sullivan’s telegram about the Philippine base negotiations and emphasized that the United States Government was not wedded to a particular negotiating schedule.