V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino

ARealisticForeign PolicyforthePhilippines
ThisspeechwasdeliveredincommemorationofPresidentQuezon's78thbirthday. Rectotookadvantageoftheoccasiontoairhisviewsonforeignpolicy.Hewasalready onacollisioncoursewithPresidentMagsaysayandhehadannouncedhisintentionto runforPresident. Thoughoutdatedinmanyparts,thisspeechshowsRectobreakingawayfromthe moldofthetraditionalFilipinopolitician,evermindfulofAmericanpowertomakeor breakpoliticalcareers.HereRectoisexplicitinhiscriticismsofourpolitical,economic andmilitaryrelationshipswiththeUnitedStates.Nopresidentialcandidateinthehistory of Philippine politics (then and since) has been as courageous as Recto in the articulationofwhatwereconsideredunorthodox,ifnotsubversiveideasonthestateof thenationandoftheworld.ManyofRecto'sdescriptionsofhisperiodareapplicableto ourtimeandmanyofthepresentdissidentviewsarerefinementsofthesesdelineatedin this piece written three decades ago. A month later, he delivered before the same audiencehiseconomicviewsinaspeechentitled"ARealisticEconomicPolicyforthe Philippines." Speechdeliveredbeforethe"Y"Men'sClubonAugust1956ontheoccasionofQuezon's 78thbirthanniversary.

WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO COMMEMORATE TONIGHT THE BIRTHDAY anniversaryofagreatFilipinoleader,andIamcomplimentedthatyoushouldchooseme asyourguestspeakerfortheoccasion.

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino

Quezon,aRealist Your election of the subject of my talk: "A Realistic Foreign Policy for the Philippines,"isafittingtributetoQuezon'smemory.Becauseifweareoncemoreto examine Quezon's political philosophy we shall find that realism was the most outstandingcharacteristicofhisentirecareerasastatesmanandapolitician. IwonderifQuezonhadeverreadWilliamJames.Iamratherinclinedtothinkthathe hadnot.Butwhetherhehadornothewaspoliticallyapragmatist.Manyacontemporary ofthatdynamicleaderbelievedthathewasjustanopportunist,asensitiveweathercock thatveeredwitheverychangeofopinionIoncecalledhim,inSpanish,inoneofour debates,"vientodeloscuatrocuadrantes,"hewasproAmericaninearlymorningand antiAmericaninlateafternoon,andwhilehisbattlecryagainsthispoliticaladversaries likethe"Federales"andthe"Progresistas" was"immediate"independence,hewould acceptthe"Fairchildbill"whichprovidedforindependenceaftera25yeartransition period. But, in justice to Quezon, what seemed to his opponents opportunism or ficklenessinhispoliticalbehaviorwasnomorethanhisphilosophyofrealismwhichin him was purely intuitive, devoid of any set rules or principles. He was unbeatable because he was a realist, because he had his feet planted on solid ground. Osmea, Roxas,Sumulong,whobecamehisopponentsatonetimeoranotherandweremenofno lesserintellectsandcapabilities,couldnotdislodgehimfromhispositionofpowerand leadership,theoriststhattheywere.EventheNationalAssembly,throughappropriate constitutionalamendment,shortlybeforetheexpiryofhissixyearpresidentialterm,had toaccommodatehimfortwomoreyearsinpower,andwhenhewasawarrefugeein Washingtonin1941theAmericanCongressextendedhistermfurther,withoutanycolor oflegality,untiltheterminationofthewar,tothechagrin and exasperationofVice PresidentOsmea.Healwayshadhisway,thatgreatempiricist,untilhisconfinementin Saranacwherehewassoontofacethegreatestofallrealitiesdeath. One of the chronic infirmities of the national character with particular regard to FilipinoAmericanrelationsisournaivet.Americansandsomeofourcountrymenof convenientpersuasionhavebeenfosteringittotheformer'sdelightandthelatter'sprofit. Itismyfirmbelief,however,thatsuchrelationshipwouldstandonasounderbasisifwe, inearnestnessandsincerity,appraiseitsrealitiesagainsttherealitiesoftheworldand adjustourconducttoourfindings.

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino Butaswecannoteffectaradicalchangeovernight,letusberealistsatleastforthis evening; tomorrow we may resume, if still so compelled by force of habit, our daydreamingaswegoaboutthemanyandvariedcaresofourlives.

TheNeedtoBeRealists Toberealistswemustfreeourmindsfromourhabitsofcomplacencyandthefoolish illusion that we play a big role in the international game of politics as if we were ourselves agreatpower,andthatournational leaders cantalk ofwarwithas much bravadoasDulles,Eden,Bulganin,orNasserwho,afterall,hastheSuezCanal,the MiddleEastoilandthewholeArabworldtobackitup. Toberealistswemustceasebelievingthatthereissuchathingasaltruismamong nations,because,asthatgreatrealistGeorgeWashingtoncounseledtheAmericanpeople inhispoliticallastwillandtestamentknownas FarewellAddress:"Itisfollyinone nationtolookfordisinterestedfavorsfromanother:itmustpaywithaportionofits independenceforwhateveritmayacceptunderthatcharacter;andbysuchacceptanceit mayplaceitselfintheconditionofhavinggivenequivalentsfornominalfavors,andyet ofbeingreproachedwithingratitudefornotgivingmore.Therecanbenogreatererror thantoexpectorcalculateuponrealfavorsfromnationtonation.Itisanillusionwhich experiencemustcure,whichajustprideoughttodiscard." Tobearealististosubscribetothepropositionthatinaworldwherethenationstate systemstillprevailseverystatetakes careofitsownnationalinterests,anditisthe responsibilityofthegovernmenttodeterminewhatthoseinterestsare,speciallythoseof lastingnature,andtoadoptandcarryoutthenecessarypoliciestowardssafeguarding them,sacrificingifnecessarythemoretransitoryinterests,as,forinstance,temporary tradeadvantages,inthesamewaythatthegoodstrategistforegoesabattletowinthe war.

MythofAltruism Tobearealististoacceptthefactthatitistoserveherownselfinterestandto safeguard her security as a nation and her position as a world leader, and only incidentally for our protection, that America has built up her imposing military and diplomatic establishments in ourcountry, and it is only inthat sense that the words 3

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino "commondefense,""mutualsecurity"and"partnership"mustbeunderstood. AstherealistQuezonsaidasearlyas1935:"Letnoonebesonaiveastothinkthat anynationwilleverfightforthePhilippinesunlessitistothatnation'sowninteresttodo so...Ifandwhenanationdoesfightforus,shewillnotdoitjustforlove." InoneoftheaddressesIdeliveredinthecourseoftheSenatedebateontheFormosa question a year ago, and also in answer to interpellations on the floor, I made the followingstatementswhich,inmyhumbleopinion,havenotlosttheirvalidity:
AmericawilldefendFormosaandthePhilippinesaccordingtoherownselfinterest andnotforconsiderationsoffriendshiporaltruism.Americahasmaderepeated announcementsofhertruemotives,andweshouldnotbenaiveenoughtoassumethat thefortunesofthePhilippineswillinfluencehercourseofactioninthisarea. IfAmericadecidestoabandonSoutheastAsia,andconsequentlythePhilippines,in theinterestofherownsecurity,shewilldosoevenifwebegheronourkneestostay. Forthepresent,allthatwecanhopeforisthatAmerica,indefendingherownsecurity andselfinterestandherpositioninthePacificasaworldleaderwillincidentallyfindit necessarytodefendus.Butweshouldnotbeingenuoustotheextentofbelievingthatwe arethebelovedpeopleofAmerica,andthatevenifherownselfinterestandsecurityare notinvolvedshewillcometousinthenation'shourofneed.Itisabouttimewemake whatMr.Dullescallsan"agonizingreappraisal"ofthetruecharacterofPhilippine Americanrelations. SENATORPERALTA.Sir,youmadethatseriousstatementthattheUnitedStates willdefendthePhilippinesonlyifherselfinterestdemandsit. SENATORRECTO.Thatiscorrect,becausethathasbeenannouncedtimeand againbyhighlyplacedAmericanofficials.Afewquotationswillsuffice.President Eisenhowersaidinhismessage:"IntheWesternPacificasituationisdevelopinginthe FormosaStraitsthatseriouslyimperilsthepeaceandoursecurity." SenatorGeorge,theChairmanoftheForeignRelationsCommitteeintheU.S. Senate,saidrecentlyontheFormosaquestion:"ChiangandtheAmericanpublicshould beawarethatwe(Americans)willnotbecomeactivepartiestolandingChiangonthe mainland.Whateverwe(Americans)do(regardingtheFormosasituation)willbesolely adefensivemovementinourownselfinterest." Lastyear,onApril1954,tobeexact,PresidentEisenhowergavethewarningonthe frightfulconsequencesofthelossofIndoChinabecauseoftheresultinglossofraw materialstotheUnitedStates:"...TheCommunistswouldgaincontrolovermillionsand millionsofpeople,potentialslavelaborersandpotentialcannonfodder.Equally important,theywouldgainvastnaturalresourceswhichthefreeworlddesperatelyneeds tin,rubber,andtungsten."AfewdayslaterPresidentEisenhowerrenewedhiswarning,

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino
saying:"ThelossofIndoChinawouldsetoffthelossofBurma,ofThailand,ofthe MalayPeninsulaandIndonesia.ThiswouldnotonlymultiplythedisadvantagestheU.S. wouldsufferthroughlossofmaterials,orsourcesofmaterials,butitwouldinvolve millionsandmillionsofthepeople,andwouldcreateanewgeographicalposition." *** ThatiswhyIbelievethat...sentimentalismandemotionalismshouldnotbeallowed toplayapartintheconsiderationofmattersaffectinginternationalrelations.Afterall,in formulatingtheirpoliciestheAmericansarejustbeingfaithfultotheirtraditions.We mustthereforetakeWashington'slastmessagetohiscountrymen,"Wewillchoosewar orpeaceasourselfinterestguidedbyjusticeshallcounsel,"asanirrevocablepostulate andnormofAmericanforeignpolicy.TheUnitedStateswillfightforus,forFormosa, forJapan,fortheworld,onlyifitsownselfinterestshallrequireit. SENATORPERALTA.Thereforeyourmainargumentisthatinasmuchasyou doubtthattheUnitedStateswillfightawarunlessitisinherownselfinterest,the Philippinesshouldtakeacautiousattitude. SENATORRECTO.Exactly,becauseSecretaryAchesonfiveyearsago,speaking fortheGovernmentoftheUnitedStates,saidthatFormosaandthePhilippineswere definitelyoutsidethedefenseperimeteroftheUnitedStatesinthePacific.

Mr.Dulleswas,atthattime,atroubleshooterfortheStateDepartmentandmadeno commentonAcheson'sannouncedpolicyonAmerica'sperimeterofsecurity.Whenthe RepublicanstookoverandDullesbecameSecretaryofState,hereversedAcheson.Asa result, FormosaandthePhilippines,andallSoutheastAsia,forthat matter, arenow foundagainwithinsaidperimeter.TheAmericanelectionsnextNovemberwilltellwhat America'sSoutheastAsiapolicywillbeinthenextfouryears. Thesubjectofmytalk,whichisofyourownchoosing,impliesthatwedohavea foreignpolicyofsomesort,butthatitsuffersfromlackofrealism.

ThePhilippinesasGenuineProtectorate Wemustadmit,ifwearetruerealists,thatwehavenoforeignpolicyatalltospeak of.Whatwehavebeencallingour. foreignpolicyisnothingmorethanthehabitwehad formedwhilestillaCommonwealthandcarriedoverevenafterourindependencewas proclaimedbyAmericatenyearsago,ofallowinghertoshapeandregulateourevery policy and following blindly her lead in international relations. You may call that a foreignpolicybutonlyinthesensethatitisentirelyforeignoralientotheconceptofa genuinelyindependentstate,formulatedandimplementedasitisbytheAmericanState DepartmentthroughthePhilippineEmbassyinWashingtonandtheAmericanEmbassy 5

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino in Manila. Our relations with those countries where we have established diplomatic missions,likeEngland,France,Spain,Italy,Australia,Indonesia,Thailand,Argentina, andMexico,aregovernedbyinstructionsandinjunctionsissuingfromthesamesource. For all practical purposes the Philippine Embassy in Washington is but the "Philippine desk" in the State Department, and the American Embassy in Manila is, ratherthanadiplomaticmission,avirtualextensionoftheStateDepartment,assistedby Admirals andGenerals commanding naval andmilitary bases,andbyJUSMAG,the Pentagon'sgeneraloverseerofourmilitaryestablishments,whichhasmadeitspressure felteveninthematterofpromotionoftopofficersinourarmedservices. Ourtreaties,bilateralormultilateral,withtheUnitedStates,likethesocalledMutual Defense Treaty, the San Francisco Peace Treaty, and the SEATO, were drafted and writtenbytheAmericanStateDepartmenttothelastcommaanddottedlinesonwhich ourrepresentatives,pretentiouslycalledplenipotentiaries,affixedtheirsignatures.The entirenationalterritoryislitteredwithAmericanmilitarybasesoverwhichthePhilippine flagdoesnotflyandwithinwhichourConstitutionandlawsdonotoperate,andwhere ourowncitizensarenotpermittedtoextractmineralsinspiteofexpressstipulationsin theBasesAgreementacknowledgingthatright. ThatgreatFilipinothinkerandstatesman,SenatorJuanSumulong,saidonthedawn ofthePhilippineCommonwealththat,"inplanningtoestablishpermanentnavalbases here the United States was planning to establish an American protectorate." Quezon expressedhisimpliedagreementwhen,answeringSumulong,hereassuredourpeople saying, "I am against American protectorate because I am for full and complete independence;independencethatisnotcompleteisnoindependenceexceptinname." Ourforeigntradeandournaturalresourcesandpublicutilitiesarepartlygovernedby anActoftheU.S.Congress,theBellAct,anditslaterversion,theLaurelLangley Agreement,andourpesoisinextricablytiedupwiththeAmericandollar.Inthefaceof allthisnationaldefenseandforeignrelationsandforeigntradeinthehandsofanalien powerandwiththatstrangetendencywehavesosuccessfullydevelopedtothinkthat wecannotsurviveasanationwithoutaliencareandprotection,Iwonderiftherecanbe anyhonestdoubtthatweare,notinnamebutinpointoffact,agenuineprotectorate,and therefore,withoutanyforeignpolicyofourown,onethatwouldhaveonlythenational interestaspurposeandguideinourinternationalrelations. AfterwhatIhavesaidtherewouldseemtobenofurtherneedforelaboratingonmy 6

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino subjectsincetheconditionsnecessaryforbuildingupaforeignpolicy,whetherrealistic orotherwise,donotexist,andwillnotexistforsometime,certainly notduringthe lifetimeofthegenerationtowhichIbelong.However,forwhatitmaybeworth,Ishall givemyviewsonwhatshouldbearealisticforeignpolicyforthePhilippinesifinsome distant future we should become courageous enough to establish its indispensable predicateindependencediscerningandjudiciousenoughtoformulatethepolicyand boldenoughtocarryitout.

RealitiesintheWorldSituation Worldrealitiestenorelevenyearsago(19451956)wereradicallydifferentfrom thoseoftoday.ThesameistrueoftherealitiesinthePhilippinesthenandnow. Tobetterappreciatethemeaningofpresentworldrealitieswemustanalyzethemin theirchangingprocessfromworldcooperationtoantagonismandcoldwaramongthe powersthatfoughttogetherthetotalitarianenemyandwerestillalliesonthemorrowof theirvictoryinthelastwar;andagainfromthetensionsofthcoldwartoastateof comparativetranquilityfeaturedbycompetitivebutpeacefulcoexistence,withperhaps somedegreeofpoliticalunderstanding. ' Theperiodofcooperationwhichendedin1945soonaftertheorganizationofthe UnitedNationswasrepresentedbyTeheran,YaltaandPotsdam.Thesucceedingperiod, thatofantagonism,andcoldwar,startedwiththeByrnesBevinDoctrineinAugust1945 whentheUnitedStatesandBritainchallengedforthefirsttimetheSovietpositionin East Europe, a challenge which evoked no little fear and much disquietude and apprehensioninMoscow.Thethirdperiodwhicheased,thoughnotnecessarilyended, tenyearsofcoldwartension,beganinBandunginApril1955,developedinGenevain Julyofthesameyear,andiscontinuingatpresentasmaybeseenintheSoviets'new approachtotheproblemsofworldpeacewhichhasprovokedavarietyofreactionsinthe freeworldandamongtheneutralcountriesparticularlyinAsia.Itismostsignificantin this respect that this same trend has become manifest even in the religious field, consideringthegenerallyacknowledgedgodlessnessoftheCommunists.Onlyaweek ago the central committee of the World Council of Churches met in Hungary, a Communistterritory.ThereWereinattendanceninetyCommitteemen,andoverthree hundred delegates and observers, including those from Red China, Czechoslovakia, RomaniaandPoland.ItwasreportedlyannouncedatthatconferencethattheRussian 7

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino OrthodoxMoscowPatriarchatewouldarrangesometimenextwinteraconferencewith representativesoftheWorldCouncil. At thetime thewarendedinEurope theUnited States was abouttoperfectthe newestandthemostrevolutionaryweaponyettobeknowntheatomicbomb.Itwas testexplodedinAlamogordo,NewMexico,onJuly16,1945,twodaysbeforePotsdam, anddroppedonHiroshimaonAugust5.Itwastheresultoffiveyearsofsecretintensive research and work to which only few officials besides Roosevelt were privy. Had Rooseveltsurvivedhistermthecoldwarmighthavebeenavoidedoratleastpostponed tilltheendofhistenure. The atomic bomb caught the American people psychologically unprepared. The feelingsofonewithamonopolyonthemostfearfulweaponcouldwellbeimagined. Churchill,thenrelegatedtotheLoyalOppositionbutstilltheleaderofEngland,seizing thepsychologicalopportunitythuspresentedspokebeforetheWestminsterCollege,at Fulton,Missouri,onMarch5,1946,PresidentTrumanhimselfintroducingthespeakerto the audience, a unique distinction Churchill acknowledged. The occasion was the confermentofanhonorarydegreeonChurchill,butitmaywellhavebeenforthepurpose hehadinmind,forthestagewassopreparedasifforthewholeworldtotakenoticeof thetranscendentalperformance.InhisspeechtheBritishstatesmancalledforanAnglo Americanpartnershipinaholycrusadeagainstcommunism.Hiswords,asprobablyso intended, intensified the cold war. Soon some American leaders were calling for a "preventive war." Chiang Kaishek, thinking it was his chance, immediately threw overboardhisagreementwiththeCommunistswhichhadbeenlaboriouslybroughtinto beingthroughtheeffortsofGeneralMarshall.Butheactedtoosoon.Histimingwas poor.InlessthanfouryearshehadtotakerefugeinFormosa. AyearlatertheMarshallPlanwasborn.Asamovetocounterthedangerousinroads of the Communists in West Europe, it was successful. In France and Italy the Communistsweredroppedfromthecabinet.ButastheWesternEuropeancountrieswere rehabilitatedandenabledtoexpandtheirindustrialfacilities,notonlyweretheyrestored to prosperity, but they began to compete with the United States in the export of manufacturedgoodsandfoundthemselvesmoreandmoreinclinedtobeindependentof Americanpolicies.

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino TheNuclearStalemate As Rooseveltmusthaveknown,andasatomic scientists likeOppenheimer,who directedtheprojectthatwroughttheatomicbomb,alsoknew,itwassimplyimpossibleto maintainamonopolyontheAbomb.Itsproductionbyothercountrieswasonlyamatter oftime,sincethetheoriesofatomswerealreadyknowntoscientistsintheadvanced industrializedcountries,andonlythefinaldetailsremainedtobesolved.Oppenheimer allowed eighteen months for others to solve the engineering problem, but Soviet espionagemusthaveaccelerateditssolutionfortheCommunists.Molotovannounceda year laterthattheUnitedStatesnolongerhadmonopolyonthebomb.Inlate1949 TrumanadmittedthatRussiahadexplodedherownatomicbomb. Thecoldwarpolarizedtheworld.Twopowerswereraisedtoanewcategoryof SuperPowersorGiantPowers.TheNATOwasestablishedin1949inordertostemand roll back the Communist tide in Europe. In that setting America found herself shouldering an unusually large share of the responsibility for galvanizing and maintainingtheAtlanticAlliance,andaidingherfollowersinAsia.Hermilitarybudget increased,andsodidtheforeignaidgrantssincemanynationstriedtocashinontheir militarycommitmentstotheUnitedStates.Butevenbeforeanadequateforcecouldbe organizedfortheobjectivessetforthotherelementsinthecomplexworldsituationwere alreadyatworkunderminingtheefficacyofNATOasapurelymilitaryalliance. The years from 1948 to 1951, inclusive, were critical years. Joseph Alsop, well knownforhisaccuracyasareporterandcommentator,saidtheUnitedStateshadthree yearsofcomfortablemilitarysuperiority.The"preventivewar"schoolofthoughtwas activeduringthoseyears.EventhelatePresidentQuirino,whilestillSecretaryofForeign Affairs,predictedinApril1948withmoreboldnessthanaccuracythatWorldWarIII wouldstartbeforeChristmasofthatyear.Itseemsthatthecalculationsofhisinformants hadbeenbasedontheexpectedvictoryofDeweyoverTrumaninNovemberofthatyear andonthehopeandinthebeliefthatthe"preventivewar"factionintheRepublicanparty hadadecisivevoiceinitshighcouncils.ButTrumanwonandoneofhisfirstpublicacts wastoscotchtheideaofapreventivewarsayingthatawartopreventawarwaswar itselfandtheUnitedStateswasopposedtoit. But as late as 1951 the United States had been thought of as militarily unchallengeable. MacArthurwantedtopushthe KoreanwarbeyondtheYalusaying "there is no substitute for victory." Whatever one might say of MacArthur, who unceremoniously rejected thePhilippines' bidtoparticipate intheJapanesesurrender 9

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino ceremonies,onecannotdenythatheisanAmericanpatriot,apoliticomilitarystrategist, and,forthatreason,animperialist.HeurgedAmericancontrolofEastAsiainorderto savethestatesofthePacificcoastfromattackincaseofwar,andspokeofthevast PacificOceanasadesirableAmericanlake.HehadalwaysstoodforAmericanpower, baskingintheglorioussightoftheAmericaneaglespreadingitsvastwingsoverthe wholeworldjustasChurchillhadstoodfortheBritishEmpiresayingthathehadnot beenmadePrimeMinistertopresideoveritsdissolution. But in 1953 it was apparent that things had changed. Among the leaders of the Western World, Churchill as in the pastwas the firstto recognize the fastchanging situation. In mid1952 he flew to Washington bringing with him the three chiefs of Britain's Armed Services who unanimously reported on the disturbing growth of the Sovietairpower.BeforetheAmericanelectionsof1952,acommitteeofscientistsfrom the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, appointed by Truman to evaluate the capabilityoftheSovietAirForce,submitteditsreport.Thedocument, knownasthe ProjectLincolnReport,spokeofRussia'scapabilitywithintwoyearstodevastatethe United States, with emphasis on the use of the word "devastate" in its dictionary meaning,i.e.,tocrippletosuchanextentastodestroytheabilitytoresist.Inthesummer of1953PresidentEisenhowerdecidedon"OperationsCandor"whichweretobeginin earlyOctober,andinwhichheandhiscabinetweretomakeaseriesofpublicaddresses toacquainttheAmericanpeoplewiththenewsituation.Laterhedroppedtheprojectand optedtospeakon"AtomsforPeace"beforetheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyon December8,1953. Thehydrogenbombandtheintercontinentalbomberstocarryanddeliveritwere addedtothearsenalsoftheGiantPowers.Theintercontinentalballisticmissilewitha nuclearwarheadisalreadyanactualityorsoonwillbe.Anuclearstalemateconfronted theGiantPowers.TheGenevaSummitConferenceinJuly1955wasonlytheofficial, publicandjointacknowledgmentbythehighestrepresentativesofthefourPowersthe UnitedStates,Britain,FranceandtheSovietUnionthatsuchastalemateexisted;and eachsolemnlycommittedhisnationtodesistfromattackingtheother. Thetruthisthatthemilitary stalematehadbegunbeforethat.Twoyears earlier, Churchill,theBritishrealist,whoseconsumingobsessionwastopreventatallcostthe liquidation of the British Empire, urged a Summit Conference. His counterpart in imperialism in the United States, Douglas MacArthur, who in early 1951 had urged expandingtheKoreanwarattheriskoftouchingoffaglobalwar,becausetherewas,he 10

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino said,nosubstituteforvictory,changedhistoneradicallyfouryearslater.InhisLos AngelesbirthdayspeechonJanuary26,1955hesaidthattheUnitedStatesshould"now proclaimourreadinesstoabolishwarinconcertwiththegreatpowersoftheworld."He rejectedpreparednessorcollectivesecurityasthepathtopeaceorsecurity.Modernwar, hesaid,"wasnolongeraweaponofadventure;itwasaFrankensteinmonstertodestroy bothsides.""Abolitionofwar"headded"wasnolongeramereuniversalwishbuta universalnecessity.Ifyouloseyouareannihilated.Ifyouwin,youstandonlytolose.It isdoublesuicide."HechargedboththeUnitedStatesandRussiaofbeingguiltyofan illusionthattheotherwantedtoattack.Both,hesaid,werewrong.Rejectingtheideaof collective security, he declared: "The divisive interests of allies always tend towards separation rather than unity." Pursuing his ideas in this regard MacArthur warned recently against heavy reliance on alliances. He blamed the loss of Asia on the recklessnessoftheStateDepartment.FortheirparttheAsianleaderswhopromotedthe BandungConferencetooknoticeofthemilitarystalemateandassumedthatpeacewas inevitable,anticipatingitsrecognitionbytheBigPowersinaSummitConference.

NationalInterestandtheWorldSituation Againstthisbackgroundofrealities,whatthenisournationalinterest?Aboveall,it istosurviveasapeopleandasanation.Itis,therefore,againstournationalinterestthata nuclearwar,whichwouldmeanthesuicideofthewholehumanrace,shouldbreakout, and we should scrupulously avoid provoking one with our fits of indiscretion and irresponsibility.Inanynuclearwar,accordingtoarecenttestimonyofGeneralJames Gavin, U.S. Army Research Chief, before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Subcommittee,thedeadlyradiationresultingfromanuclearbombdroppedonRussia can,dependingonthewind,reachasfarasJapanandthePhilippinesandextendwell back into Western Europe, and the United States cannot avoid causing hundreds of millionsofdeathseventoherallies.Ontheotherhand,accordingtothesameofficer, suchabombdroppedonanypartoftheUnitedStateswouldkillandmaimseventy million people. Of course, if it is dropped on any American Military base in the Philippines, say Clark Field, Subic, or Sangley Point, we are totally liquidated, and America's ultimate victory would serve us nothing. Promises of "I shall return" are meaninglessafteranuclearattack.Dr.Taylor,ChiefofDivisionofAtomicRadiation PhysicsintheU.S.BureauofStandards,latersaidthatGeneralGavin'srevelationwasan understatementofthesituation.SenatorMansfieldwarnedthat,asaresultofGeneral 11

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino Gavin'stestimony,manycommittednationsmaywellshifttowardneutrality.

MythofInvincibility ArankingofficialofourExecutiveDepartmentrecentlydeclared:"Tothinkthatour defenseswouldbeinvinciblewithoutthepresenceofmilitarybasesherewouldbeto indulge in an illusion." Here is a glaring example of unrealistic thinking which unfortunately prevails in Army circles. It assumes that the objective of our defense programistomakeourdefensesinvincible.Suchanobjectiveisoverambitious.Infact, itisnotofthisworld.EventheUnitedStates,aGiantPower,isnotbrashenoughto think,letalonetalk,of"invincible"defenses.Onthecontrary,thePresidentoftheUnited Stateshasrecentlyexplainedthatinviewofthepresentdayeventsarmamentsareno longer for the purpose of waging a war, much less of winning a war, but only for deterringwar.Thatiswhyhespeaksofwartodayas"unthinkable,"addingthatitisnot material if the U.S. Air Force is second best, provided it is strong enough to deter. GeneralEarlePartridge,AirForceCommanderoftheUnitedStates,inhistestimony beforetheU.S.Senate,saidthattheUnitedStateswillhavedifficultyinshootingRussian bombersbecausetheyflysohigh,andthattheUnitedStateshasnointerceptorsthat could deal with Bison's (Russia's longrange jet bombers) if they flew at maximum altitude.SecretaryofDefenseWilsonconcededthatRussiaisoutstrippingtheUnited Statesintheproductionoflongrangeheavybombers.Onthematterofciviliandefense theChairmanoftheCivilianDefenseCommitteeoftheAmericanMunicipalAssociation, inoneofthegovernmentreportsheardbytheAmericanHouseCommitteeinvestigating civilianpreparednessforwar,said:"Thenationisinnopositiontosustainanattackof nuclearweapons.Itcouldbesoreducedtoachaoticconditionrelativelysoonwhich wouldbeofsuchamagnitudeastoprecludethepossibilityoftheU.S.defeatingan aggressor:" Now,iftheUnitedStatesitselfdoesnothave"invincible"defenses,andnoneofits leadersclaimsthatitdoes,howcouldweimagine,muchlesstranslatethatimagininginto recklesstalk,thatwemustandwillhavesuch"invincible"defensesbecauseofAmerican protection?Theobjectiveofan"invincible"defenseisadreamthatisbeyondtheshadow ofrealizationnowadays,andis,therefore,completelyidleandunrealistic.

U.S.ProtectionandExistingTreaties 12

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino But are we truly protected? Do we have that feeling of security in American protection enjoyed by the North Atlantic nations and the republics of the Western HemisphereundertheprovisionsofNATOandtheRioPact?Anyrealistwillanswerin thenegative.IntheUSPIMutualDefenseTreatytherearenostipulationssimilarto thoseappearinginNATOandtheRioPact,that"anattackonanyof"thosenationsand republics"isanattackontheUnitedStates,inwhicheventtheUnitedStateswillassist the party or parties so attacked by taking forthwith action as it deems necessary, includingtheuseofarmedforce,torestoreandmaintainthesecurityofthepartyor parties so attacked." Instead, the United States will in our case merely follow its constitutionalprocessesandwhetheritwillultimatelycometoourdefenseorleaveusto ourfatewilldependontheresultofsuchprocesses.Ithasbeenclaimed,toappeaseour hurt feelings inthis regard,that Americais noless committed tothedefenseofthe Philippines than to that of the Atlantic nations and the countries of the Western Hemisphere,irrespectiveofthewordingofexistingtreaties;butthequestioncanneverbe answeredsatisfactorilywhyourtreatyiswordeddifferentlyifAmerica'sintentionand purposearethesameineithercase,andwhytheUSPIMutualDefenseTreaty,having been drafted and signed subsequent to NATO and the Rio Pact, did not include the automaticdefensestipulationscontainedinthetwolastmentionedtreaties.Isuggestthat the reason for the difference is, that America does not consider the security of the PhilippinesasvitaltohernationalsecurityasthesecurityoftheAtlanticnationsandher sisterrepublicsintheWesternHemisphere.Soitmaybesurmisedthatintheeventof anotherglobalwar,whichwillbenuclear,thedefenseoftheLatinAmericanrepublics andtheAtlanticnationswillcomefirstinAmerica'soveralltableofpriorities,andthe Philippineslast,ifatall.Yetthefirstcountryfromwhichthefirstnuclearbombsagainst the enemy willbedelivered, andforthatmatter willbealsothefirsttoreceivethe devastatingimpactoftheenemy'snuclearbombs,forthedefenseandsecurityofthe AtlanticnationsandtheWesternHemisphere,isthePhilippines.Anyrealistshouldknow that.Infact,historyrecordsthatBataanandCorregidorfoughtasacrificialrearguard actiontosaveAustraliaandwinthelastwar.

JapanandAmerica'sCommitment Evenaformerenemy,Japan,nowAmerica'smosttrustedallyinAsia,hasbeenthe recipientofbetterguarantiesofprotection.InherdefensetreatywithJapan,Americahas undertaken"tomaintainpeaceandsecurityintheJapanareauntilsuchUnitedNations 13

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino arrangementsorsuchindividualorcollectivesecuritydispositionshallhavebeendevised aswillsatisfactorilyprovideforthemaintenancebytheUnitedNationsorotherwiseof internationalpeaceandsecurityintheJapanarea."ThiscommitmentofAmericainfavor ofJapan,whichisaguaranteeofprotectionsubstantiallyasgoodandvalidastheoneshe hasaffordedtotheNATOandRioPactnations,hasbeendeniedtothePhilippines. ButevengrantingthatourMutualDefenseTreatyaffordsusacertainmeasureof protection,suchprotectionisintendedexclusivelyagainstacommunistattack,certainly notagainstanattackfromanyothersource,forinstanceJapan,nowanallyoftheUnited States. Americahasbeen,oflate,rebuildingorhelpingrebuildJapanasherprincipalallyin Asia.ItisinterestingtonoteinthisconnectionSouthKorea'sreactiontoAmerica'splan ofreconstructingJapan'sleadershipinAsia.The NewYorkTimes, ofSeptember27, 1955,commentedthatSouthKoreanAmbassadortoWashingtonYouChanYan"feared thattheUnitedStatesandJapanmayreachsomesortofsecretunderstandingtomake JapandominantinAsia"oncemore"andquotedtheambassadorassaying:"SouthKorea wouldgoundertheCommunistsratherthanallowJapantooccupyusagain."ForaSouth KoreanAmbassadortoWashingtonthosewerecertainlystrongwords. At presentJapan'shomedefenseforceconsists of150,000men,tobeincreased, accordingtoplans,to200,000bytheendof1958,with90percentofthetotalconsisting ofgroundtroops.Adefensiveairforceandnavyisexpectedtobecompletedwithinsix years. PressdispatchesbearingontheconversationsheldlastyearbetweenSecretaryDulles andForeignMinisterShigemitsuinWashingtonare,however,totheeffectthat"the AmericancounterproposalcallsforaJapanesegroundforceof350,000men,organized intentraineddivisionsinaboutthreeyears,andaJapanesemannedairforceof1,300 planesby1960."Theideabehindtheplan,accordingtoPentagonofficials,wasthatthe "U.S.wantsJapantoplaythemilitaryroleofamajorpartnerinthedefenseofthe WesternPacific."Or,asWalterLippmanndeclaredaboutthesametime,commentingon thoseconversationsinWashingtonbetweenForeignMinisterShigemitsuandSecretary Dulles,"nosettlementinEastAsiacanbepermanentinwhichJapandoesnotparticipate asaprincipalpower." InthecourseofaspeechIdeliveredintheSenatein1952againsttheratificationof theSanFranciscoPeaceTreaty,Isaid,andforgivemeforquotingmyself: 14

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino ItisnowevidentthatthegranddesignofAmericanstrategyistomakeJapanthe leaderoftheAntiCommunistforcesinAsia,becausetheJapanesearesaidtobetheonly peopleinthisregionwiththenecessarymilitarybackground,technicalskill,numbers, discipline,andindustrialpotentialtomeettheexigenciesofmodernwar.Butareweto believethatavictoriousJapan,havingfoughtherwaybacktopredominanceinAsia fightingsidebysidewithAmerica,willevenrespectour"territorialintegrityorpolitical independence"?DotheAmericansthemselvesimaginethatavictoriousJapan,having wonAmerica'sbattlesinAsia,andhavingbeenrestoredtoherformerpositionasafirst classpower,willnotseizetheopportunityoffinallybringingtorealizationherdreamsof Asiandomination? Isitourinvidiousfate,ifImayask,tobecomeeitheraCommunistChineseprovince oraJapaneseprefecture?Arethosetheonlyalternativesthatthefuturehasinstorefor us?

ThePhilippineSituation Now, let us take a look at the peculiar realities of the Philippine situation. Our colonial economy, being an agricultural, exportimport, aliendominated one, is necessarilypoor.Sincethetimeeconomicimperialismwasdeveloped,thatis,sincethe timethedomesticmarketsofthedevelopingcapitalistindustrialcountriesbecameglutted and the need for outside markets for their surplus arose, nations with agricultural economieswereabsorbedbytheindustrialnationstobecomeagriculturaladjunctsof thelatter'sindustrialeconomies.Beingagriculturalwedonotmanufacturemostofthe finishedormanufacturedgoodsthatweneedforourconsumption,andthereforewehave toimportthem.Beingagriculturalwemustexport,inordertopayforourimports,solely ormostlyrawmaterials.Ourownpostwarexperiencerevealsthatasyearsgobywe havetoexportmoreunitsofourrawproductstopayforagivenunitofthemanufactured products that we import. Thus, no matter how much harder and longer we work to producemorerawmaterialexports,wearealwaysonthelosingendinourforeigntrade. Thatisthefateofallagriculturaleconomiestoday.Beingagriculturalandbeingpoor, andbeingapeoplesufferingfromacolonialmentality,oureconomyissusceptibleto alieneconomicinfiltration,penetrationorinvasion.Beforethewar,alienownershipof productionandexchangefacilities inimportantsectorsofoureconomywasacquired mostlybyresidentaliensthroughinvestmentfromaccumulatedprofitsmadeinourown country.Afterthewar,alienownershipandcontrolofoureconomy,wereconsiderably 15

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino increasedthroughforeign,mostlyAmerican,privatedirectinvestments.Theextentof combined alien ownership and control in our economy has reached dangerous proportions.Asof1938,accordingtotheReportoftheJointUSPIFinanceCommission of1947,about1/4ofthenationalwealthwasalreadyownedbyaliens. Inthemilitarysphere,whatistherealityinthePhilippines?Ina'polarizedworldof Giant Powers we can bedescribed as totally unarmed. Without weapons ofwarour soldiers arejustcivilians inuniform. Wecannot have military strengthuntil wecan provideourselveswiththeweaponsofwar,andwecannotmanufacturethemorexpect tomanufacturethemaslongasweremainagricultural.Theresultisthatwhoeverwe dependonforarmsnecessarilyisinapositiontodictatetouswhy,when,howand againstwhomthearmsaretobeused.Thuswearedeprivedofthesovereignrightto determinewhoshallbeourenemyorourfriend,orourally,whomtofight,whomto fightfor,andwhentobeneutral,withwhomtotradeortoexchangediplomats,and,in the words of Washington's Farewell Address, when "to choose peace or war as our interest,guidedbyjustice,shallcounsel."

ProtectionMeansDictation IntheearlypartofthisspeechIdeclaredthatweareaprotectorate.Iamnotalonein thatbelief.Americannewspapers,inmomentsofcarelessnessbutquiteappropriately, havedescribedusasa"militaryprotectorate."Onewhoacceptsprotectionfromanother submitsitselftodictation,withnoonetoprotecthimfromhisprotector.Thegallingand humiliating incidents in military and naval bases in our country are only minor but inevitableconsequencesofourspecialrelationshipwiththeUnitedStates.Itmaybe addedherethatundersucharelationshipwecanilltalkofnationalsecurity,becausethe relationship of protector and protected necessarily means dictation, and as Professor Lasswell,ofYale,authorofNationalSecurityandIndividualFreedom(1950),aptlysaid: "Thedistinctivemeaningofnationalsecurityisfreedomfromforeigndictation." From this description of our economic and military realities the political reality becomes obvious. Many of us believe that we are "independent". We are often complimentedbyourbig"partner"inthe"specialrelationship"thatweareindependent. Buthebehavesandactstowardsusinamannerthatindicatesquitethecontrary.He imposeduponustenyearsagotheBellTradeAgreement,togetherwithparity.Afternine yearsofoppositionandagitationagainsttheTradeAgreement,hefinallyconsentedto 16

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino reviseit,butparityhasremainednay,ithasbeenextendedtoallfieldsofeconomic endeavorfarbeyonditsoriginalscopein1946whichwasconfinedtotheownership andexploitationofnaturalresourcesandpublicutilities.Nootherindependentcountryin theworldexceptourshasgrantedparityrightstothecitizensofanother. Healsoexactedfromusleasesofourlandsformilitarybases,whichcanbe expandedathiswilland,soitiscontended,withouttheconsentofCongress,foraperiod andundertermsthatarewhollyrepugnanttotheconceptofsovereignty.A99yearlease is,inreality,andeveninlaw,tantamounttoaleaseinperpetuityandthereforeavirtual transferofownership.ExterritorialitywaslastknowninChinaduringtheWestern Powers'scramblefor"spheresofinfluence"and"foreignconcessions."Aperpetuallease oflargestrategicareasofthenationalterritory,withanoptiontoexpandtheareasleased, meanspermanentmilitaryoccupationanddetractsfromtheproperbehaviorofthelessee whoisboundtorecognizeandrespecttheindependenceandsovereigntyofthelessor. ThetermoftheleaseofbasesinSaudiArabiais5years.InSpain,whereherlawsand courtsofjusticeoperatefullyandherflagfliesaloneovertheAmericanbaseswhichshe herselfcommands,itis10years.Thatitshouldbe99yearswithcompleteexterritoriality inourcaseclearlyderogatesourvauntedindependenceandsovereignty. AdistinguishedmemberoftheAmericanPanelinthecurrentnegotiationsforthe revisionoftheBasesAgreementdeclaredattheopeningsessionoftheconference:"... SomehavecontendedthatthisAgreementshouldbelikeotherswhichexistbetweenthe UnitedStatesandothernationswhereU.S.basesarelocated." The American negotiator does not deny that there are provisions in our bases agreement with the U.S. that are onerous to us, such as the 99year lease, the exterritoriality and unilateral command, but he argues, in an attempt to justify said onerousstipulations,thattheAgreementis"theresultofmorethanhalfacenturyoftrust, confidenceandmutualinterest...toauniquedegree,"andthat"thereisnoparallelin this relationship between the United States and any other country;" thus clearly insinuating,toavoidimpolitedirectness,thatduringthathalfcenturyperiodwehadbeen a colony of the United States, and that our "independence" is an American grant bestowed by proclamation of the American President, and not something we have ourselvesdeclaredandconqueredbyforceofarms,liketheAmericanindependenceand other peoples" independence, but simply the product of American generosity. The unmistakable insinuation in the American negotiator's opening remarks is that it is unthinkableforustoexpectthatouragreementswiththeUnitedStatesshouldbeplaced 17

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino in the same category as those concluded between America and other independent countrieswhichdonotowetheirindependencetoherliberalityand,consequently,arein apositiontodemandtermsofequalityintheirdealingswithher. TheAmericannegotiatorspokefurtherofthemutualitywhichtheMutualDefense Treaty,liketheBasesAgreement,"exemplifies."TheAmericannegotiatormusthave thoughtthatconsideringthatwearenotinapositiontocometoAmerica'sdefenseifshe isattacked,weshouldnotlayclaimtostipulationssimilartothoseappearinginNATO andtheRioPact,suchastheautomaticguarantyclause.Inotherwords,whatthe Americannegotiatorcalls"adegreeofmutuality"isnothingbutathinlyveiledwayof saying"beggarscan'tbechoosers,"inwhichheandhiscountrymen,accordingtohim, takeadeepsenseofpride.Butintruththereisnothing"mutual"inthistreatyexceptthe word"mutual"inthetitle.

ProtectorateorIndependence? Now,howarewegoingtofacetheserealities?Shallweremainaprotectorateor shallweendeavorfurthertowinourindependence?Shallwebarterawayourrighttobe masters of our national destiny for a delusive sense of national security? Shall we continue begging for our daily bread or shall we work and sweat for a permanent economicsecurity?Shallthenationalterritorycontinuetobeapatchworkofforeign military installations enjoying full exterritorial rights and constituting a permanent militaryoccupancy,whilethenationalgovernmentgroansunderabureaucracytopheavy withforeignadviserswhoworkprimarily,asistobeexpected,intheinterestoftheir country?Shallaforeignembassyandaforeignmilitaryecheloncontinuetoexercise controloverourforeignrelationsandnationaldefense? Thechoice,ofcourse,lieswiththepeople.ButImayventuretosuggestthatifwe choosetoremainaprotectorate,becausewehavebeentoohabituallydependent,toolazy toworkharderandtoocraventostandupforourrightsandtofacethefuture,wemayas well make the most of a bad situation and let our protectors assume the complete financialburdenofourexternalsecurity:andourexternalrelationsasifwewereunder theregimeoftheJonesLaw,sothattheonethirdofthetotalgovernmentrevenuethatis atpresentbeingappropriatedforthearmedservicesandtheforeignservicecanbeputto betterusesuchasamelioratingtheconditionofourmassesandpromotingtheeconomic securityofall.ourpeople,which,afterall,isthebestsafeguardagainstCommunism.A 18

V I N T A G E R E C T O :Selected&EditedbyRenatoConstantino constabularyforcewillsufficetotakecareoftheinternalpublicorder,asinthedaysof GeneralBandholtzandGeneralCrame,capturingtheHukcouriers,who,aftercapture, areautomatically"promoted"toCommandersbytheircaptors,thekidnappers,thehold uppers,andotherlawviolators.Afterall,ifwhatourArmypunditssayistruethatthe localCommuniststrugglehasmovedtotheparliamentaryandlegalstage,thenitshould bethosewhoareexpertsinthesefieldswhoshoulddothefightingforthegovernment andnotthemilitary. I repeat that we should profit to the limit, materially at least, within the present protectoratesetup.Thatisrealism, pureandsimple.Formosa,andSouthKoreaand SouthVietnam,receiveannuallythelion'sshareineconomicandmilitaryaidfromthe UnitedStates,andnoneofthemismoreofaprotectoratethanweareourselves.Why shouldwebediscriminatedagainst? Butifourpeople'sdecisionis,asIhopeitis,forindependenceandnationaldignity withalltheirattendanthardships,perilsandsacrifices,thenblessedbetheybecausethey shallcomeinGod'sgoodtimeintothefullfruitionofthatgreatheritagethatistheirs underHisprovidence.

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