COMMENTS BY HON. WILLIAM H. SULLIVAN, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES, ON DELEGATION VISIT

Ambassador Sullivan has commented that in the Embassy's view this was a very useful visit. The CODEL was composed of members who gave an excellent impression of their serious purpose. It was particularly valuable to have some freshmen members in the group, since Filipinos have had serious worries about the alleged neoisolationism of the class of 1974. All members know their business and handled themselves in a manner which did great credit to the Congress. We could use more CODELS of this calibre.

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APPENDIX 6

REPORTING AND ANALYSIS OF STUDY MISSION BY FOREIGN NEWS

SERVICES

[From Bulletin Today, Manila, Philippines, Aug. 6, 1975]

NORMALIZATION OF TRADE WITH U.S. PROPOSED

President Marcos called yesterday for a normalization of trade relations between the Philippines and the United States.

He also said the Philippine government would let the U.S. use all the facilities in its military bases here so long as the bases would be under Philippine control. Mr. Marcos made these announcements before 14 American congressmen who are here in the course of a four-nation fact finding tour of Asia.

In urging a normalization of trade relations between the U.S. and the Philippines, the President cited certain discriminatory practices which, he felt, should be corrected since they were prejudicial to some Philippine exports to the U.S. The President said that trade between both countries was governed by special agreement or arrangement such as by law or by treaty, there being carryover practices from the agreements which may be considered prejudicial to both countries.

For instance, the President said, some of the Philippine's principal exports like coconut oil pays a one-cent a pound tax on entering the U.S. while palm oil from other countries enters tax free.

This trade arrangement which he called "unjust" and "unfair" was a carryover from the special relations between the two countries even after the termination of the Laurel-Langley Agreement on July 3, 1974.

The President also cited the case of mahogany, another Philippine export which pays a 20 percent duty on entering the U.S. while all other hardwoods from other countries pay only a 10 percent duty.

Mr. Marcos told the visiting congressmen headed by Rep. Lester Wolff, chairman of the subcommittee on future foreign policy research and development, that the Philippines had been calling the attention of the U.S. government to the inequalities but so far, nothing had been done about it.

He expressed the hope that the abnormal arrangement would be corrected now that trade agreements were being taken up by panels from both governments. He also said:

"The Filipino people voluntarily give to the American people the facilities to maintain their present position in the sea lanes and air lanes in the Western Pacific and thus keep the present balance and equilibrium among the world powers and maintain the foundation for peace and stability in the area."

The President told the solons that the Philippines had accepted and recognized the responsibility of every country to contribute to world peace.

He said that if the Philippines could contribute to world peace by giving America the means to maintain its position in the Western Pacific, it would do so, "But let it be understood that the Philippines and the Filipinos are offering these facilities voluntarily and as independent, dignified country and people," he said.

Rep. Wolff, spokesman for the group, told the President he was impressed with what the Filipinos are doing to face up to the realities in the world today.

"Our visit here today is an evidence of the fact that we in Congress and the American people do not consider Vietnam as an end to America's participation in world affairs, but perhaps a new beginning on a new basis of understanding of peoples throughout the world," Wolff said.

The group is scheduled to hold exploratory talks with Asian leaders on foreign policy planning.

Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor briefed the visitors before they went to Malacanang.

In the afternoon, the group split into four.

One group met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Carlos P. Romulo, the second with Finance Secretary Cesar E. A. Virata, a third with Agriculture Secretary Arturo Tanco, Jr., and a fourth with Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile and Gen. Romeo Espino, Armed Forces chief of staff.

[From the Indonesia Times, Aug. 7, 1975]

U.S. CONGRESSMEN'S VISIT

A three days' visit is held by a number of U.S. Congressmen in Jakarta. Their visit infallibly is with the purpose to see for themselves the situation prevailing in Indonesia. To get first hand information from the Indonesian leaders.

President Ford and President Suharto had just made their face to face interchange of views and informations at Camp David meeting. Philip Habib had also completed his on the spot fact finding mission in SEA, particularly the ASEAN member countries. They are all from the executive branch.

Now the legislative body held its on the spot fact finding tour. Indonesia so far, except certain times during the Old Order, is always in good relations with the U.S. people. Meaning both with the executive and legislative branches. Only lately when certain contest between the White House and the Congress is running, certain view of the Congress disadvantaging Indonesia is occurring. It concerns the Congressional represaillos steps toward the OPEC member countries for giving certain limiting stipulation in the U.S.-Indonesia trade.

Various aids are given by the U.S. to Indonesia. This is surely due to the existing common interests between the two nations. Two interests at least can be mentioned. Firstly to establish peace in this part of the hemisphere. Secondly is the explicit coincidental interest for fighting communism here.

As for the latest mentioned interest we have the common purpose. Yet we have dissimilar concept and strategy.

During the pre-Indochina U.S. disaster, the U.S. tried to contend communism with military power. Indonesia from the very beginning, backed up by its own experience do not believe in communist annihilation by the use of force. Indonesia has the concept of national resilience with the ideological fanatism and peoples welfare as its crucial elements. National development with the economic as its nucleous is to be the main instrument.

The million dollars spent in military operations and military bases will be sheer waste. It even gives the communist the required fuel to blaze their agitation and propaganda.

What is required is the establishment of national freedom backboned by the national resilience, developed through national development. Implementing this concept the communist will be bereft of their fuel for mass agitation.

Indonesia is quite confident that it is the only cure against the communist menace. Indonesia believes with or without foreign aid the Indonesian people will succeed to repulse the communist implementing the concept. But with foreign aid available the national resilience will be able to be speedily established. Thus the quicker we can care for developing the regional resilience. All the more when Indonesia was quite resolute that only through cooperation among nations on all aspects of their interests peace can be secured.

Military balance of power is not the prime asset for the development of peace in this part of hemisphere. But the well balanced interests, and undivided economic cooperation for the peoples' welfare and prosperity are indespensable requirements.

We hope may these representatives of the U.S. people truly interpret and transfer the Indonesian peoples' real concern, aspirations, and respect to the American. And how the Indonesian people appreciates the better use of aid to be given to the Asian people with new orientations.

[From the Indonesia Times, Aug. 7, 1975]

U.S. CONGRESSMEN'S VISIT AIMED AT GETTING INFORMATION, SAYS

RUSMIN NURJADIN

The Indonesian Ambassador to the United States, Rusmin Nurjadin, said here yesterday that the aim at the current visit of U.S. Congressmen to Indonesa is to get information.

The information is needed for discussion in their Committee, Ambassador Rusmin told the press at the Foreign Office.

Eleven U.S. Congressmen of the Sub-Committee on Future Foreign Policy, Research and Development arrived here yesterday for a two-day visit.

During their stay in Indonesia, the Congressmen will make calls on President Suharto, Foreign Minister Adam Malik and other Indonesian officials. The U.S. Congressmen will proceed to South Korea tomorrow, August 8.

ROLE OF THE U.S. CONGRESS

Asked on the position of U.S. Congress towards Indonesia, Rusmin Nurjadin said that U.S. Congress is willing to have more active participation after the Watergate affair.

The Congressmen are also active in checking the activities of the U.S. Administration, including in the bilateral relations between Indonesia and the United States, he said.

Rusmin said that he is happy with the visit of the U.S. Congressmen, because they can see by themselves the real situation of the Indonesian development. Rusmin Nurjadin is here for a routine consultation with the Government. He will return to the United States on Sunday.

[From the Indonesia Times, Aug. 8, 1975]

U.S. CONGRESSMEN MEET HOUSE LEADERS

The visiting United States congressmen, led by Lester Wolff, met with House Speaker Dr. Idham Chalid and Vice Speaker Sumiskum at the House building here yesterday.

In the informal meeting, Lester Wolff said his mission was aimed at formulating his country's future foreign policy. The mission wanted to know Indonesia's views on the role of the United States in the world and in Southeast Asia and the East-West issue. They also questioned the cooperation among ASEAN member countries.

House Speaker Idham Chalid told the U.S. congressmen that détente is an excellent policy, provided all parties cooperate whole-heartedly for the sake of world peace and not for their own individual interests.

On ASEAN, the Speaker said its members resolve to cooperate. This August. Malaysia will host an ASEAN Parliamentary Meeting as the continuation of the previous one held in Jakarta last January.

In the meantime, House Vice Speaker Sumiskum told the congressmen that Indonesia at present faces three main problems. They are democracy development, economic development, and political stabilization.

[From the Indonesia Times, Aug. 12, 1975]

RELATIONS AMONG NATIONS

Lester Wolff, heading the U.S. Congressional mission visiting Indonesia said that many world difficulties were caused by the inexistence of relations.

Talking about relations among nations we can approach it from two senses. The relation in reality, and the ideal.

In the present close modern world community of ours some kind of real relations or another will exist among the nations. It may cover a wide range of relation's spectrum. In such a close world community, a nation will be unable to isolate

itself completely from the rest of the world. If ever there is any nation which can establish an autarchish state, at least the human conscience cannot be confined behind the dividing walls of isolationism. Mankind is one. It cannot be separated from each other.

As such every existing lack of relation will surely develop difficulties. At the first stage it will aggravate the sound functioning of the nations concerned as a member of the world community. At the last instance the wholeness of humanity will be defected, as a part of it is left out of the circle.

This approach gives rise to the relations with the "ideal" sense. The ideal relation regards mankind as a totality. All world nations have the equal right, responsibility, and call to develop a single community of mankind; to develop peace on earth; and to make the most benefit out of the world resources for the welfare and prosperity of all undiscriminatingly.

Relations among nations alone is not enough to pursue such aims. As in this sense an unjust relation such as colonialism may be regarded as a type of relation. Relations between nations are not at an end. They are merely means to an end to establish the universal call of mankind for developing peace, friendship, and the spiritual and material welfare of men.

We believe even when relations exist among nations, the world difficulties may not vanish automatically. It may ease temporarily the tensions resulted by the developing difficulties. The cause of the difficulties remains unresolved. For the purpose it requires the relation should be motivated by the senses of mutual respect, mutual understanding, and the consciousness to relate oneself to others as equals. It should be a relation among partners eager to discharge their respective responsibilities to the community according to their self-felt capabilities. The relations among nations will be effective and benefittable if it is utilized as the means to develop harmony of the existing diversities of nations' characteristics and aspirations. Such harmony requires the development of the diversities within the frame of the universal conscience of mankind. Within such frame of context negative efforts to keep the traditional excuse of "balance of power" need not to exist.

Yes, projected into such frame of context we fully agree with Lester Wolff's opinion. Such relations among nations surely will help much to avoid and overcome the world difficulties.

[From the Korea Times, Aug. 10, 1975]

U.S. SOLONS, CHUNG SWAP VIEWS ON SECURITY

The visiting 11-man delegation from the U.S. Congress paid courtesy calls on President Park Chung-hee and National Assembly Speaker Rep. Chung Il-kwon yesterday and exchanged opinions with them on mutually concerned issues with special interest in Korea's defense capability.

In a 30-minute meeting with the speaker, the delegation expressed increased interest in the tunnels which North Korea illegally built for invasion purposes in the Demilitarized Zone.

It was learned that the visiting congressional delegation led by Rep. Lester L. Wolff asked if North Korea's threat was real.

As to the question, Speaker Chung said "it is better for you to size up what it is like when you would visit the front line today."

In the meantime, Reps. Stephen J. Solarez and Paul Simon said they were surprised to learn that Korea was an economically developed nation.

SURPRISING ECOMONIC GROWTH

At the same time, the visiting lawmakers expressed keen interest in the activities of the National Assembly as to what lawmakers do during the recess and how often the Assembly is called into session.

Vice Speaker Rep. Lee Chul-seuing, and floor leader of the opposition New Democratic Party Rep. Kim Hyung-il were present along with lawmakers of the ruling camps when Speaker Chung met with the visiting congressmen.

Meanwhile, three congressmen were given honoary degrees of doctor of laws at Hanyank University. They are John T. Myers, Tennyson Guyer, and Eligio de la Garza.