White House Press Release

IMMEDIATE RELEASE OCTOBER 23, 1951 The President has sent the following letter to the Honorable Myron Melvin Cowen, accepting his resignation as Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines: "My dear Mr. Cowen: It is with deep regret that I accept your resignation as Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines, effective on or about November 15, 1951. This regret is, however, tempered by the knowledge that you are willing to continue your services in the field of foreign affairs and particularly that your new duties do not represent an end of your official relationship with Australia and the Philippines, where you have served with such distinction, but actually a new and broader chapter of service to your country. I particularly wish to express my appreciation for your splendid work in the Philippines during the past two and one half years. All Americans know the importance of the friendships between us and the government and people of the Philippine Republic. That our relations are on a mutually friendly and satisfactory basis is due in no small part to your service as our Ambassador. I know that the departure of yourself and Mrs. Cowen will be a source of genuine regret to your many friends in that country. With best wishes for your continued success, I am Very sincerely yours, HARRY S. TRUMAN" Following is the text of Ambassador Cowen's letter to the President: "October 10, 1951 My dear Mr. President: In view of your kind agreement with a suggestion made by the Department of State that I undertake certain other duties within the Department, I have the honor to submit for your approval my resignation as Ambassador to the Philippines to be effective November 15, 1951. In expressing my deep regret over this termination of my services in the Philippines, I wish to convey to you my sincere appreciation for the mark of confidence you have bestowed upon me in offering me these new responsibilities. The period of my service in the Philippines has been one of great satisfaction to me. The problems involved in Philippine-American relations during this difficult period of world history have been most challenging and I have at times had qualms as to my capabilities of meeting the situ- ation. It is therefore all the more gratifying to me that upon relinquishment of my duties in the Philippines I can report to you my conviction that Philippine-American relations now stand upon a firm foundation which not only give promise for the future of these relations but also should, in my opinion, be a shining example of the good which can come from a cooperative relationship between free peoples. This hopeful situation has of course been made possible only because of the unwavering support and enthusiasm of yourself, and of my colleagues in the Depart- ment of State and in the Foreign Service. Last but not least, this relationship would have been impossible without