CONDITIONS IN PHILIPPINES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26120, 24 May 1950, Page 7

CONDITIONS IN PHILIPPINES

AMERICAN CONCERN REPORTED FEARS FOR SECURITY OF QUIRINO REGIME (N.Z. Piess Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON. May 22. The United biates is Decoming increasingly concerned over the internal situation in the Philippines, and State department officials believe that the worsening economic positiofi ol the Philippine Government, coupled with the recent rapid growth oi the Com-munist-dominated riukbalahap movement. could well lead to serious difficulties lor the Quirino regime. Slate department officials said that they did not think a collapse was imminent. but unless a firm hand was taken by the Philippine Government, conditions would soon deteriorate to the stage where its collapse would become an uncomfortable possibility. One State Department official said: “The country's collar reserves are at a very low level. The Hukbalahap movement has shown an alarming growth in the last six months. The movement has spread to all parts of the Philippines with the exception of Mindanao.” Some officials hold the view that President Quirino’s failure to stamp oiu the graft and corruption surrounding his own Government has weakened his administration. They fear that the course of events may oe *• running disturbingly parallel with the post-war developments in China which preceded the coilapse of Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s regime. United States official policy has tended to regard the Hukbalahap problem as a domestic issue, whica should be left to the Philippine Government to handle, but there are signs of growing impatience with the Quirino Administration's efforts to come io grips with i mportant internal issues. American officials show increasingly less restraint in their criticism. Economic and Defence Problems Tne United States is at present committed to a small contribution to Philippine defence under the mutual de ence assistance programme. The Philippines will nrobably be included in lhe new programme of technical assistance and economic aid to Southeast Asia, but there seems little doubt that the bulk of lhe United States' assistance will be concentrated further west, in Indo-China. There is a widely-held belief in Wasnington tha.t the Philippine Government could well revise the military tactics it has been using against the Hukbalahaps. Washington observers emphasise, on the economic side, the rapidity with which the Philippine Government is spending dollars. The Philippines emerged from the Second World War with a dollar credit of about 600.000.000 dollars. Since then. 1.800.000.000 dollars has been received in various ways, including United States grants and military expenditures. American officials, however, make no secret that their main concern is at the growth of the Hukbalahap movement, which is now reported to be receiving direct material aid from the Chines? mainland. The Hukbalahaps are believed to have an armed strength of about 20.000. and to enjoy the strong sympathy of a large proportion of the peasant population The Hukbalahan’s issue with the Philippine Government is land reform. but the Hukbalahaps are now dominated by the Communists. American officials note with concern ”vit the Hukbalahaps’ newly-adopted title, the “People’s Liberation Army.” has a familiar, ominous ring.