Tuesday
We are concentrating on the Muslim secessionist problem.
So we are settling our problems with the Americans. I have bent backward to accommodate the desire of the American businessmen who want to continue the beneficial use of their lands—private land bought by them and foreshore lands. So I have agreed to the setting up of foundations that will buy their lands and rent them off back to the businessmen.
On foreshore land it is a choice between easement rent the facility like piers or pipes, or recognition of the existing contracts of lease.
The apparent attempt to intimidate the Philippine Government, including me, by the American Chamber of Commerce passing a resolution condemning the Phil. government as confiscating their property, in violation of the U.S. Trade Law provisions—and the threat to send the resolution to Sen. [Alan] Cranston as pointed out by Ambassador [William] Sullivan to Sec. Alex [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.]—is nauseating.
But I let it go. However, Sec. [Carlos] Romulo could not. So he heatedly remarked that the Americans should not attempt to coerce us since the President has shown he is willing to bend backward to accommodate the Americans.
Anyway I attach an article on what the CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] and Sec. [Henry] Kissinger did to “destabilize” Chile leading to the downfall of [Salvador] Allende.
I am alarmed at the EEC [European Economic Council] contract for five years of 10 million tons at 150 pounds or $360 a ton which is 16 cents a pound. We are buying through PNB [Philippine National Bank] export sugar at 18 cents a pound.
We have to get our own 5 year contracts finalized with at best 24 cents a pound.
I attach the news item.
“We will not take the word of anyone. We will listen only to the President.”
Thus the Bontoc people of Sadanga, ______.[1]
Office of the President of the Philippines
[1] The entry just cuts off mid-sentence.