Office of the President of the Philippines
Manila
No matter what anyone says, what we have done—to announce our desire to take over the bases has antagonized the Americans.
Cong. [Donald] Fraser’s statements on the alleged absence of civil rights as well as that there is no longer any need for martial law is but one of the instances of “putting the heat” on us.
Early May we were informed by the Jusmag [Joint US Military Assistance Group] that the $7 million balance of the payment of the Colt M-16 (machinery for the manufacture) can no longer come from the military aid to the Phil. They offer only a guarranty [sic] or a complete take over of payment by the Phil. government. I have directed that our government pays it from our reserves, to show our self-reliance and dignity.
They are again reducing us to mendicancy.
I am sure that the normalization of relations with China will farther engender antagonism against us from the Americans.
We would like to stand on our own but we should now see to it:
- That the PRC [People’s Republic of China] does not support the indigenous rebels.
- That instead she supports the legitimate government.
Office of the President of the Philippines
Manila
The National Art Center
I am so used to the beauty identified with the First Lady that I came here prepared for just another creation that evokes delight.
But this breathless spot now we shall know as the National Art Center is so inspiring that I wish I were a little younger so that I could apply to be a tenant here.
No one cannot but become a genius in such elevating surroundings.
This undated text appears to be a speech for the inauguration of the National Art Center on April 7, 1976.
Office of the President
of the Philippines
Malacañang
Even Doroy [Teodoro] Valencia in his column of Nov. 1st, 1975 comments on the Newsweek allegation in the article “Marcos Brave New World” that Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor was the author of martial law.
The fact is he was not even in the Philippines when I proclaimed martial law. Nor did I consult him. I considered him (and I still do) as only one of the many technocrats (and a pro-American) who might have too much to lose in the death of the Old Society.
The latest issue of Far Eastern Economic Review on the other hand refers to a growing power struggle between Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile and Sec. Melchor. It refers to Sec. Melchor as the author of the government purge of about 2,000 men (this coincides with the statement of the Coca Cola chairman and wife Mr. and Mrs. Austin that Sec. Melchor had ______.
This undated text was included in the April 1976 folder.
The succeeding pages are missing.