We are waiting for Danny [Daniel] and Ising [Maria Luisa] Madrigal so that they can meet with Tony [Antonio], Belek [Jose], Chito [Consuelo] and Macaria, Ising’s brothers and sisters. We are trying to amicably settle their quarrel about their property.
Usually in family quarrels of this nature the peace makers get hurt but since they are our friends we are taking this risk.
Premier Chiang Ching Kuo sent Mr. Yang Hsi-Kun Deputy Foreign Minister with a message and letter with the request for me to intervene with Japan and the United States to delay or stop the normalization of relations of Japan with Red China.
I attach the letter and copies of my answer to him and the cablegrams to Amb. [Eduardo] Romualdez in Washington and Amb. [Roberto] Benedicto in Tokyo.
It is to our interest that Taiwan remain a buffer between the Philippines and the mainland. But at the same time we cannot close our eyes to the need for peace between Japan and Red China. War between them would embroil us.
The established fact that Red China seems to be helping the local communists and may continue to do so may require a reassessment of our defense and foreign policies.
We may have to keep on depending more and more on the United States. And we may have to postpone the diplomatic relations of the Philippines with Red China or even Russia.
Thus the continuance of the Military Bases Agreement.
The reports of submarines landing personnel and arms in the Divinisa, Palanan area makes me cautious about cutting our ties with the United States.
For the next two decades we will not be able to defend ourselves against Red China or Japan.
And anyway for a self-reliant defense posture we need military assistance from the United States whether on the basis of outright aid or sales.
Official Gazette for August 21, 1972: THE PRESIDENT continued concentrating on urgent official papers and other state business.
Except for some department heads who consulted him on matters concerning their respective offices, the President did not receive other callers.
Manila Times, Chronicle, Bulletin and The Philippines Herald among other media are still trying to make the Plaza Miranda grenade incident that was the principal cause for the victory (from sheer pity felt by the electorate for the Liberal’s senatorial candidates) of the Liberals last year, a rallying cause against the administration.
It is obvious that the Liberals are making use of the newspapers and the radicals. Or rather it is a question as to who is using who.
But only 3,000 attended the rally at Plaza Miranda and there have been no incidents.
I enclose in Envelope XXXIV-I the newspaper today.