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{
    "localId": "290018151",
    "label": "Letter from Secretary of War Robert Patterson to President Harry S. Truman, with Attachment",
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{
    "id": "290018151",
    "sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/290018151",
    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Letter from Secretary of War Robert Patterson to President Harry S. Truman, with Attachment",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/290018151",
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        "President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)",
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    "url": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/290018151",
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    "levelOfDescription": "item",
    "productionDates": [
        {
            "day": 4,
            "logicalDate": "1946-03-04",
            "month": 3,
            "year": 1946
        }
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{
    "seq": 4,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602191/750352/750352-026-004.tif",
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    "ocrText": "WAR DEPARTMENT\nCLASSIFIED MESSAGE CENTER\nINCOMING CLEAR MESSAGE\nURGENT\nA\nFrom: CINCAFPAC Tokyo, Japan\nTo:\nwar Department\nNr:\nZ21383\n3 March 1946\nFrom SCAP to AGWAR. Z21383. MacArthur.\nReference your W 99167 and W 98975, I disagree with\nthe Attorney General and Commissioner McNutt. The Philippine\nCommonwealth is about to assume the status of a republic and\nI believe the disposition of its collaborationists should\nWhile there is no question that the crimes committed were O\nbe primarily regarded as its own national responsibility\nagainst both the United States and the Commonwealth, the\nunalterable fact remains that these men were Filipinos,\nthe incirent involved occurred on Philippine soil and the\npsychological impression which will result deal primarily\nwith Philippine Public opinion. The racial problem will\nbe an ever growing factor and the priority action of the\nUnited States cannot fail to be deeply and accumulatively\nresented by 2 majority of the Philippine people. In all other\nliberated countries collaborationists have been released to\ntheir respective governments for action. For the United\nStates to try these men therefore would violate international\ncustom and practices. The only possible valid reason to\nintervene would be the doubt of adequate philippine punishment.\nEven if this doubt proved legitimate, I still believe that\nparamount interest in this matter lies with the Filipinos.\nIt was their loyalty, their devotion and their gallantry\nwhich contributed so markedly to our success and in my\nopinion, it would be a churlish act indeed to reciprocate\nthis magnificent performance by an exhibition of superior\nMC IN 51663\n(3 Mar 46)\nSERVICE\n2.3\nme. Between\nUNCLASSIFIED"
}