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    "localId": "207522111",
    "label": "Correspondence Between President Harry S. Truman and Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson",
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    "id": "207522111",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Correspondence Between President Harry S. Truman and Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/207522111",
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    "productionDates": [
        {
            "logicalDate": "1950-09-01",
            "month": 9,
            "year": 1950
        }
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    "seq": 6,
    "pageIndex": 0,
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    "ocrText": "C\nTOP SEGRET\nP\nY\nc. Granting increased dollar amounts for equipment and supplies as\nmilitary assistance for the Fiscal Year 1951; and\nd. Increasing the numbers of security personnel and the effectiveness of\ntheir equipment in the military units now guarding United States installations in\nthe Philippine Islands.\nIf the foregoing measures prove ineffective and the situation in the Philippines\ndeteriorates further, a reevaluation of the situation will be required.\n14. There is some doubt as to whether the Philippine Government is prepared\nto accept at this time a military advisory group patterned after that in Greece, in\nwhich United States officers act as tactical advisors in the field to native troop\ncommanders. The Philippine Government has agreed, however, to the size mission\nnow employed. Negotiations for the mission providing advisors at battalion level\nwould necessarily be long and would not meet the immediate requirement for increased\nassistance.\n15. The basic problem involved in maintaining the United States strategic\nposition in the Philippines against internal aggression is primarily political and\neconomic. Military action should not be an alternative for a stable and efficient\ngovernment based on sound economic and social foundations. Remedial action\ninsuring such changes in the Government of the Philippines as would regain the\nsupport of the people would go further toward removing the immediate threat to the\nUnited States strategic position in those islands than military action alone. It is\nrecognized, however, that the two should proceed as part of an integrated plan.\n16. In response to the specific query in your memorandum of 7 July 1950,\nregarding the strengthening of United States forces in the Philippines, the Joint Chiefs\nof Staff would state that:\na. The Marine contingent at Subic Bay and at Sangley Point have been\nstrengthened since May 1950 in numbers considered adequate to meet the\npresent problems of security. A further increase to meet further possible\ncontingencies is under study; and\nb. Orders have been issued for a considerable increment of air police\nwho should arrive in the Philippines by 15 September 1950. Action has been\ntaken to assure that the air police in the Philippines will be maintained at\n100% strength.\nIn this connection the Joint Chiefs of Staff have directed that appropriate measures\nbe taken to improve the collection of essential intelligence in the Philippine Islands.\nThe Joint Chiefs of Staff will submit recommendations in the near future on the\nsubject of a military defense assistance program for the Republic of the Philippines.\n17. The Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend that the Secretary of Defense:\na. Urge upon the National Security Council the necessity for prompt and\npositive political and economic action to arrest and reverse the current\npolitical deterioration in the Philippines as essential to the maintenance of\nthe United States strategic position in the Far East;\nTOP SECRET\n-4-"
}