ANTI-US SENTIMENT/EXPECTED ELECTION VIOLENCE

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02932198
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: December 15, 2022
• Case Number: F-2022-01326
• Publication Date: October 27, 1953

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C ONF I Ei E 1T T IAL
SECURITY INFORMATION
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
Philippines
Anti-US Sentiment/Expected Election Violence
PLACE ACQUIRED
(BY SOURCE)
DATE ACQUIRED
(BY SOURCE)
DATE (OF INFO.)
SOURCE
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES. WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE 10, SECTIONS 793
AND 794, OF THE LI'S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR REYE.
LATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
U$ national
REPORT NO.
RESPONSIVE TO
2
CD NO.
00/O NO.
ORR NO.
DAS NO.
OCI NO.
DATE DISTR.X7 October 1953
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS.
SUPP. TO
REPORT NO.
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
1, thought you would be interested in the attached articles taken from this
morning's MenilaNulletin : Sep 53; article 'Alsop's Report' headlined
'Columhist Says Megsalsay rican Choice! in Election by Joseph 411.En,
Page 1, and editorial 'Intervention Again'� editorial page, Things like
this cause a lot of difficulty for Americans in the Philippines for
Elpidio Quirino never fails to make a big issue over Americans interfering
in Philippfne politics, Es le a very ruthless individual and could
probably be termed a modern Al flanone, His two months sojourn in Johns Eopkin's
certainly did not improve 'Mai Lis disposition or his physical condition
to any marked degree, Nothing is allowed to stand in his way with knifings
and shootings being the order of the day throughout the Philippines,
Recently, an American Consul and his wife, attached to the DS Embassy vere
pretty roughly handled by a couple of motorcycle policemen right in the
heart of Manila and there Is almost a continuous broadside being fired at
Ambassadoraruance from Malacsnan or the Presidential Palace, Fortunately,
Ambassador 411,erte has seen tit to ignore most of the criticism but at
times must retaliate for the protection of the Americans here in the
Philippines. Ion assure you there is no love lost between them but 1 don't
see haw it could be any different under the circumstances,
U.S. Officials Only
OONFIDENTIAL
SECURITY INFORMATION
DISTRIBUTIONFT
(b)(3
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(b)(3)
"BambnllaiSaztay is certainly looked up to by the PiIiPinO7people over
and abbve eVeryOne else but I don,t think the consolidation of the
Eacionalistaa and the Democratic parties has helped hii cause to any
great extent. A.lot of confusion has resulted and while it IS gradually
being irOmed out, has Presented somewhat of a diVided front in Supporting
him. Edwever, Nhgdaysay continues to campaign from City to city and
barriolto baeriti and is gaining a tremendous f011oWing. Be -id a fine man
and conducting a very intelligent and gent3milerly ciatipaign by ignoring the
aheap-claimS and contention's of quiriho and the Liberal Party.- The general
feeling seems to persist that Magsaysay will win theiteetImiOn November 110th
but that Quirino"Will be the next President. Ballot lbxes have a habit of very
bytteridusly disappearing or being stuffed. by the Party in:power:and in
addition flying sqUsdrons or armed thugs are quite sUbdesaful in keeping
apposition Votes away from the polls by threats and outright violence.
would like *pry much to make amovie of some of theserlblitical gatherings
for they Usually always end up in a big fight but I just don't have the
nerve. EVerYone seems to be packing a gum or a knifes known here in the
Philippines as a balisong, and don't hesitate to use them."
"The pOlitical cauldron will probably continue to boil with even greater fury
as we approach election day with the result that there will be a general
etodus of foreigners from Manila and the other cities juat'Prior to and follow-
ihgthe election. I feel that it is just is deadly to be oaUght in the
drossfire as 'would be the came if the gun were timed at ydu and will join
the rest of the foreign population'and leave Manila from Approximately
November 6th to November 14th or 13th. I have never been one to run away
from trouble but for safety's sake, believe it the better part of valor in
thie politically crazed city. We must begin to think about making reserve-
tiona,for every suitable plane outside the firing tone will no doubt be
crowded-with foreigners. Oince Magsaysay's resignation as Beeretary of
Defense' Meny changes have been made in the Army and the -Philippine Constabulary.
Many of the high ranking officers have been replaced by questionable characters
tho yere leaders during the bloody elections of 1949. Everyone feels that
these moves are indications of Vhst can be expected in this year's election
and 'while every precaution is being taken by the opposition, still very
little can be done to overrule the edicts of President Quirino. I sure hope
that everyone is 'Wrong in their deductions but I don't think it would be
very. sound :udgment to stay around Manila to find out."
gvallable are photographic copies of: (b)(3)
a) "Alloy's Report", headlined "Columnist Owe Massaysay American Choice
in Election", by Joseph Alsop, Page 1$ Manila Bulletin, 25 Sop 53.
b) Editorial, uintervention Agate, editorial page, Manila Bulletin,
. 23 Sep'5317
- end -
-COMINIDERMA194-6,161A�8-MT-
8:ECPRAT. WOW=
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Manila Bulletin, Fri. Sept 25, 1953
ALSOP'S REPORT
COLUMNIST SAYS MAGSAYSAY
AMERICAN CHOICE IN ELECTION
The following article, first of two Int the Philippines, will ap-
pear shortly in snore than a h.undred U.S. newspapers of large
circulation. It was toirciessed from Hongkong to New York and
airrrutiled exclusively to the Bulletin, which carries the column
,regularly on the editorial page Mr. Aleop was a recent visitor
to Manila where he saw and interviewed leaders of both the
Liberal party, including President Quirino, and the Necionalis-
ift,Democratic coalition. The second article will appear
torn orrow.
_�
By JOSEPH AESOP
Ttudyard Kipling dismissed the ipine capital. But here in Ma-
lit tie Englanders of his day with
the line, They nothing know of
England who only England know."
It, a quite different way, Am-
erica's involvement in the Nkorid
is r a I entlessly
producing a com-
parable s t a-
t ion. For who
at home under-
stands, for ex-
ample, that Am-,
erica now has:
a candidate in:
a critical elec-
tion in a rnajo
Far Eastern na-
tion?
Certainly this
t� arra spo�dent
had no such ALSOP
idea until he reached the amia-
ble. steaming hot, charmingly gim-
crack, irrepressibly vital Phil-
lulu it is clear at once that Ra-
mon Magsaysay is the American
choice against the incumbent
President Elpidio Quirino. The
evidence speaks for iLscif with
a loud voice.
In considering this remarkable
fact, one can at least lyein by
saying that we need not be
ashamed of our own side. Since
the end of the war, the omni-
present blackmail of the com-
munist threat has extorted Am-
erican sympathy, or money, or
military aid, or in some cases all
three, for some highly unappetiz-
ing politicians and political re-
gimes. But this is not true here.
The ailing, crafty and insatia-
ble Quirino came into office in
an election celebrated for its
fraudulence. With all his shrewd.
&turn, he still represents al- '
(Continucid on page 2)
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MA NIT :Is Ei 1.7 LLETIN. FRI., SEPT, 2.5.
ALSOP
Magsaysay cleansed his minis-
try and the Philippine army of
graft and politics. He breathed
(Continued from pow= ( a wholly new spirit into the
most every backward tendency in campaign against the 'Mks. By
Philippine end Asia-0c Piothic-'s� untiring effort he destroyed or
Ile is surrounded by a rlique
whose rapacity has startled �tven
tolerant Manila ft he is
ad at all, he will win by the z-ncv; visior, to his people.
ruthless use of his control of 'he
In all this effort, Maasaysay
arTny and government machinery;t14 worked intimately with the Am-
for these are his only visible sup- F erica, embassy and military ad-
port in an aroused nation. vtsory -grouts The relation was
Magsasisay, in contra-4, crthielYt io happy that Quirino has even
struids for the future. that Asia charged that Magsaysay's Amer-
rnay reasonably hope for, yet H :cat' liaison officer acted as
rnay so easily be cheated at by :'Maissaysay's public relations
the powerful collaboration of son- mar.- All that ended of Course
runt ruling elements and the , when Masssaysay left the Cabinet
always active communists to an for the presidency against
The new man is not all that., . his former chief. Our wholly *ti-
the older man is. The finesse, mirahle ambassador here, /WI/li-
the disillusioned knowledge of the; roil Raymond Spruance, has main-
violin, the surface polish that are t tallied an attitude of the Strict-
ures immediately striking in Qua- i est correctness in the present
rinci are not present in Muses-- � -ear say. You think when you meet
n Msaysay, "lie has worked
with him hands and he fought in
the woods," and you would still
Suspect these things if you did
not already know them to be
true. And you also think, sure.
ly this man is a bit uncomplicat-
ed. even maybe a bit na.if for one tion. The real attittide cif the
whc must thread the labyrinths itinerican government LS diseeriv
of Asiatic politics, and this is }hie behind the correct facede ir
probably true too, and may one aueh very simple fact as the
day prove a drawback.
tmmhire ot any Eisenhower ad-
let this dark, vigorous, burn- '
Pres-
a
localized these communist guer-
rillas and to checkmate comma-
aistd he began to offer his new
ipa g
None the less, President Qui-
t-Ion has twice burst out that the
embassy was intervening in the
struggle. Although these un-
founded charges have had te be
withdrawn, Quirine's Supporters,
like Speaker Eugenio Peret, have
Continued to repeat the aceusa.-
itig man is explosively courageous, .
angrily honest, and above all tret,rn,
!possessed of a vision of the fu- his
ti.ire that has made him a nero ieaa.
'of his people. Today the Phil-
ippines is a poor land in which
a vury few enjoy great. wealth. cm:ass is
Yet this is also a land of ins- I wit
morose, untapped riches, with a ss s em ass. Hs. a� semes
Ircutier in Mindanao, in Mindoro, Th- fact e� to' t. ;Ain pro-
in Palawan, that holds almost dues, ;ls. roost la' rss ing el-
the promise of the American vet, up�� i h
� �.!ii Asia
frontier. The vision that Mag-
saysay offers is a vi.sion of na-
tional self-development, of hard-
working progress and better life
for the people.
liut this does not answer the
cptcstion of how the United States
came to have this candidate in
the election of another nation
all the way across the broad Pa-
cific. The answer is at once sim-
ple and complex.
Magsas.say comes of relatively
humble people. He ran a -bus Line
before the war. In wartime, he
was the guerrilla leader of his
province. When peace came.
General MacArthur named hint
provincial governor, He ran for
congress and was elected. in the
period when the communist
Ifulsbalahaps were still operating'
in the suburbs of Manila his;
bravery, energy and determined!
anti-communism attracted erten-,
tion In that disordered time the
Philippine government was living
by American aid. American in-
fluence was an important factor
In making Magsaysay minister of
defense.
sormg
, ;lobs :
tstit.
-here-
aricricari
elect next
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Manila Bulletin, Sept. 25, 1953
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- I
'INTERVENTION AGAIN I
The explosive topic of American
intervention in the Philippine'
elections has come up once more
in a slightly new way, via thos,
opposition to President Qatiriso's
administration. Senator Laurel,'
:talking more or less Informally,I
asked the American community,
and American offieialdom both
here and abroad to "do some- I
thing" about the preservation of
democracy in the Philippines. It
might be considered an open in-
vitation to intervene.
The United States does indeed
have an abiding interest in the
preservation of democracy in this
country, both its government and
its people. Every official action
and every casual expression has
shown that to be true, ever since
Independence was granted and
right up to the present moment�
increasingly so in fact, in recent,
months. We don't believe Dr.
Laurel or anyone else has reason
to doubt that.
So it becomes necessary to de-
termine, so far as it can be done,
just how far the United States or
anv its citizens or institutions
should go in trying to further the
preservation of democratic insti-
tutions at a time when political
TIN-alry causes every action and
every word to be suspect of par-
tisanship.
What the United States and Its
citiz.ens cannot do is well defined
by law, and has been called re-
peatedly to attention by the
American embacsy. It is not per-
missible to contribute money to- '
wards the election or the defeat
of any candidate, nor to actively
join an election campaign, or to
attempt to vote. It is against
both American law and Philippine
law to do so, and the Philippine
law of course applies to all aliens.
What the tee or any
f foreign nation could ett
and with Oropriei y to .
-prcser, I` detrideracy- in the Phil-
us not neeti defined, and
Is a c,.nf roversi a I II i,iec indPtSi.
1C}r k\>Sil that. In i.n1111,1 had
111�1`11 Anerir, alnott what, he
,,,e;,rrt olaCt. think tie ;
oterm I the United !Artiteg shoitid
inn M. a iircelr rtitompt to In-
thience fifers. ilid We can-
not nree odth him. That would
ii filch violation if sovereignty
11 a liii 111 vi ye. nor mutual
k..n emir,. a ell 'A it trioelt ancw el
independence.
An or riciat or unofficial e\Iirvs-
j , of itrefcrenee for one
I,' ia mni. hcr, or one political
r�-giito, as nt,,ainsl lino': her shoeld
riot, he a % IiiiI,,in or either sot. er- ,
eis Illy or decorum. In fact atty I
pcch il,1 ion against It, st-lf-Impos-
0,r1 or 0 lbe mi...., u otild spin to
iota I e lie pni liego of free
mloculr. Any rf�porting of opinion
Rivione Americens or Othet
tifiliL I'., such 41,. tor IngtancO
ese N.Is op 's ri it' IP 011 I oday '14
t rOnt page. is within the best
radit ions of a free press so long
as it an es a Itintinn based on
impart int In veo iga
Ando it hoot tear or hesitation
II sccurs Ii. its Om t lit,' Anteriean
ortimen I ;mil its people should
take a militant iv aetiVe interest
in 'the pri,sert a lion of tree and
*.�ii�I't it/nS, SS it !lout violence
mi limit coercion. Siirli in-
terest ilaS t1-e1�11 e�ftritited freely,
and Will calitiolio,
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B. Editorial, "Intervention Again"
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