Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson and President Harry S. Truman

261 SECRE September 11, 1950 MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT Item No. 6 -- Philippine Mission Mr. Bell and General Richard Marshall reported to the President on the Philippine Mission. They told the President they had made a similar report here in the Department on Saturday and therefore I shall not repeat it. The points which they made were: 1. Extreme seriousness of the situation and the need there for a program of say $50 million a year for five years supervised and administered by an American Mission which they thought might require in the neighborhood of 150 to 200 people and which would in effect have to assume direction of most of the Philippine Government activities. most 2. The Huk situation they regarded as / serious and thought that that had to be dealt with by a three point program, the first point being competent and vigorous military action; the second, the social reforms contemplated the the in the economic report; and the third, the assurance in RECORD the Philippines of continued American interest if not direction. They also reported adversely to any hope that important personages might be changed in the Philippines. The President was most interested in their report; was horrified at the situation they reported; indicated general agreement DECLASSIFIED NLJ 78-71 SECRET By NLT-KK NARS, Date 3.28.79