January 7, 1979

Seaside

The formal signing and exchange of notes and other documents between the U.S. and the Philippines finally took place at 5:00 PM, at Maharlika Hall.

The documents include:

1. The letter of Pres. [James] Carter to me
2. The letter of Sec. Cyrus Vance to Min. [Carlos] Romulo
3. The letter of Amb. Richard Murphy
4. The response of Min. Romulo
5. The arrangements arrived at which contain the provisions of the amendments.
6. The exchange of notes on the other areas occupied by the United States such as:

1. The U.S. State Dept. Regional Relay Communications Facility formerly of the Clark Air Base complex now a U.S. facility subject to the authority of the U.S. Embassy.
2. The American Military Cemetery and Memorial at Fort Bonifacio.
3. The sites and activities such as the pipeline from Subic Naval base to Clark Air Base, the Seismic research site within the Phil. Air Station of del Monte, Bukidnon province, the communications site within the Philippine Army installation at Mt. Cabuyao, in Bcnguet Province and others.
4. Radio Broadcasting facilities or the Voice of America stations in O’Donnell and Wallace.

We obtained practically all that we wanted—except for criminal jurisdiction over American soldiers on security duty.

Official Gazette for January 7, 1979: THE PHILIPPINE and United States governments exchanged notes confirming acceptance of amendments lo existing KP-US Military Bases Agreements as hammered out by the panels of negotiators of the two governments. The notes were signed by Foreign Minister Carlos P. Romulo in behalf of the Philippine government and Ambassador Richard Murphy in behalf of the US government. The notes exchanged were President Carter’s letter to the President, US State Secretary Cyrus Vance’s letter to Minister Romulo, and Romulo’s letter to Ambassador Murphy. The signing and exchange of notes at the Maharlika Hall of Malacañang were witnessed by the President and the First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, US and Philippine diplomats, members of the cabinet, the RP and US panels of negotiators, ranking Filipino military leaders and members of the Batasang Pambansa.

We met the deadline I set for the final agreement on the bases which is today, Jan. 7, 1979.

At about the time of the exchange of notes, memo reached me that Pnom Penh, the capital of Kampuchea, had fallen to the Cambodia United Front for National Salvation (actually composed mostly of 10 Regular Divisions of the Vietnamese Armed Forces). Their flag was raised at the Central Temple of the city at 11:30 AM, Manila time.

I attach the notes on the speech I delivered on the occasion of the signing of notes.