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XoAsl4s December 52. eel - page two elements and would thus be liscely to counteract eff ctively one of the most powerful appeals of communist propaganda. “here are nev rtheless some dif“iculties still to be ironed oute íhe most important is the objection held by most neutralist elements against the inclusion of Formosa. Nevertheless it is felt, that this objection is l&kely to vanish the minute it is clearly shown to the neutralists that they have nothing to fear from joining the Union, since the union is one of the greatest powers on earth and backed by the üniteú States. Considerably more difficulties are feared by diplomats on the question of the ageession of “outh Korea. “ince that country is at war, the more neutralist elem nts express the fear that a Facific Union with Korea might involve them in the fighting. As it looks today, this objection is taken care off and the question of the accession of Korea would be postponed to some future and mwure propicious date. In view of the tremendous dipiomatic game now played by the Philippine governm nt and which might bring about important diplomatic events in the coming year, the inner situation in the Philippines is not without interest. 4t is dominated first by the coming elections then by the evolution of the Philippine civil war and finally by the economic evolution of the country. elections are going bo be held in 1953. As the situation stands today, their outcome is dubious. It is true that electoral pracitices on the Philippines do not always stand up to genuinely democratic criteria. ,he government in power has means to correct election returns, though these means are now always infaillible. In the last g neral elections, it is rabher doubtful whether Quirmno's liberai4 Party really achieved a majority. Most people would say, b&hat the popular majority had rabher voted in favor of the opposation Nacionalista Party. At present nevertheless, public opinion has been éven more strongly in favor of the Nacionalistas, and it is doubtful, whther the government will be successful in correcting the results again. it is therefore well possibl. that the Nacionalistas might gain the coming elections. “his nevertheless would not mean a change of policy. Despite some rather demagogical declarations, the Nacional. leaders fundamentally believe in the same things as the present administration and would hence not change the for ign policy of thé countrye in fact numerous experts in Manila believe that the Nacionalistas migit be more successful in gaining support for the projects than the liberals, since the latters are ofte accused of bieng too subservient to Washington wishes. ‘hus, there is absolutely no reason to fear the outcome of the coming elections, regardless of what some sensationalist newspapers might say. ~oncerning the Huk war, tie situation has evolved favorably. underthe new Philip ine-American agreement, added aid has bee extended on the rhilippine government, which has permitted the purchase of additional modern equipment for the rhilippine Gonstabular: 33
