811B.00/8–1345: Telegram

The Consul General at Manila (Steintorf) to the Secretary of State

521. Consul General has been confidentially informed by Chief CIC2 officer that on V–J Day3 General MacArthur4 plans stop all censorship in Philippines and release all persons now interned solely for reasons of military security. Persons against whom formal criminal charges, including charges of collaboration have been or will be made will be turned over to Philippine authorities.5

Chief CIC officer also said MacArthur has been disturbed by reports that he has been intervening in Philippine political affairs and that he is taking this action to demonstrate that any past intervention was solely in prosecution of war effort. Responsibility for trial or release [Page 1232] of collaborators will thus be placed solely upon Philippine authorities.

It is opinion of Consul General that little or no action will be taken by Commonwealth against collaborators and that eventual result of MacArthur’s action will be to strengthen Roxas6 in coming elections if they are held.

Steintorf
  1. Counter Intelligence Corps.
  2. September 2, 1945.
  3. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Commander of United States Army Forces in the Far East, and Commander in Chief of the Southwest Pacific Area.
  4. In despatch 311, August 21, 1945, the Consul General at Manila stated: “This is in accordance with General MacArthur’s statement made on Leyte toward the end of 1944 that the American military authorities would detain collaborators until the end of hostilities when they would be turned over to the Commonwealth Government.” (811B.00/8–2145) For text of General MacArthur’s proclamation of December 29, 1944, see Official Gazette of the Philippines, vol. 41, No. 2, p. 148. Under Executive Order No. 23, November 2, 1944, President Sergio Osmeña created a board of inquiry to investigate disloyalty charges in the Province of Leyte, and under No. 53, June 8, 1945, created a similar national board of inquiry; see ibid., No. 1, p. 43, and No. 3, p. 202.
  5. Manuel A. Roxas, President of the Philippine Senate.