DEPARTMENT OF STATE Memorandum of Conversation
SUBJECT: Visit of President Quirino to the U. S.
PARTICIPANTS: Mr. Joaquin M. Elizalde, Philippine Ambassador The Secretary - Mr. Acheson Myron M. Cowen, American Ambassador to the Philippines Mr. W. W. Butterworth, Director for Far Eastern Affairs
COPIES TO: S/S G FE PI AMEMBASSY, Manila
The Philippine Ambassador called at his request to see me at 11:45 a.m. He explained that he had talked earlier in the morning with President Quirino who was very anxious to come to Washington despite the events which had recently intervened. Ambassador Elizalde went on to say that in his opinion the President was "jittery" in view of the rumors which had appeared in the Philippine press from time to time about a possible visit to the U.S. Asked by Ambassador Cowen whether the President understood that he would be coming here merely for a visit and conference and there would not be attached to the visit any material commitments on the part of the U.S., the Philippine Ambassador said that he thought that President Quirino was entirely clear on this point but that he was scheduled to speak with him at eight o'clock tonight and he would ensure that this was completely understood. He also indicated that he had strongly advised President Quirino to say nothing about the visit at this stage and had gone to the trouble of telephoning his brother in Manila following his conversation with the President, and requested his brother to reemphasize this point.
Ambassador Elizalde went on to comment on the unwisdom of President Quirino's action at Baguio in meeting with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and thus involving himself in the China problem and, therefore, creating difficulties for himself and everyone else in the matter of his trip here. I said that the President had looked forward to welcoming President Quirino and that the plans had been largely formulated just prior to the Baguio meeting; it was obvious that this injected an embarrassing element since his coming to the U.S. might be interpreted in the Philippines as an attempt by the U.S. to limit the initiative that he had taken and correspondingly it might be interpreted here adversely. Ambassador Elizalde said that nevertheless it was a good and desirable thing for President Quirino to come to Washington, that he was prepared to come here on very short notice, and expressed the hope that somehow arrangements could b worked out. He seemed doubtful whether from President Quirino's own point of view it was desirable for him to go to New York but he did drop a hint that if President Quirino addressed both Houses of Congress it would be an appreciated gesture.
FE: WWButterworth:mss