It is apparent that the [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] partisans have succeeded in foisting him as a symbol that the Americans and other alien westerners have come to accept—so much so the DPI [Department of Public Information] information attaches report an “Aquino watch” and Ambassador [William] Sullivan in his meeting on the military bases with Sec. [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] last Sunday, May 11th.
Ambassador Sullivan stated that his principal problem is the U.S. Congress which will do what it wants to not on the basis of facts but on its beliefs and appreciation of the situation. He pointed to the example of Korea.
A William Butler is here apparently for the Council of International Jurists but the telephone conversations of Aquino’s sister Lupita Concio with a certain Liza Anderson shows he may have been planted to drum up a story on Aquino. ·
The New York Times has an editorial. And their correspondent Lellyweld has a story on an alleged bottle of wills between me und Aquino because of his hunger strike—notwithstanding the fact that his hunger strike has been broken since he has taken per orem dextrose with glucose and sugar—as well as sustagen (today one spoonful).
I attach the report or Sec. [Francisco] Tatad on this.
Ambassador [William] Sullivan has suggested that we go through the trial, after conviction
pardon him and then deport him to Australia.
So Aquino is important to the Americans. To them it does not matter that he committed murder, treason and other crimes. Or did he do so for the Americans?
Even Prime Minister [Gough] Whitlam and his Foreign Minister, Willoughsie [sic] [Donald Willesee], intervened for Aquino during their visits.
So Sullivan is using Aquino to frighten us into some kind of a compromise on the military bases—and Aquino.
On the military bases, I attach the instructions I gave Sec. [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] as to what to convey to Ambassador Sullivan. He was to tell Ambassador Sullivan that I would like to see the Subic Naval Base converted into a commercial port with the naval ship repair facilities open to commercial shipping run by the private sector and Clark Air Force Base into an international airport—but of course available to the U.S. in case of need.
I pointed out the example of Singapore which took over the British naval facilities and absorbed the civilian employees.
I also attach the notes made by Sec. Melchor of his conference with Amb. Sullivan.
Ambassador Sullivan asked why we wanted to change the status quo on the bases.
It is to the national interest of both the US and the Phil. to make the change. The US because now it must tighten) its lines and lessen expenses—the Phil. because the bases are no longer a protection for us but may be a liability.
And the reason for the Philippine loyalty to America seems to have disappeared—American sense of fair play and justice.
If it is true, as Amb. Sullivan claims that Congress (the U.S.) is not interested in the truth and the facts but only in the impressions—then it is no longer entitled to my respect nor loyalty.
Office of the President
of the Philippines
Malacañang