The Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines was signed in Washington on 30 August 1951, in duplicate, the official text in English. Signatories for the United States: Dean Acheson, John Foster Dulles, Tom Connally and Alexander Wiley; for the Philippines: Carlos P. Romulo, Joaquín M. Elizalde, Vicente J. Francisco and Diosdado Macapagal, in the presence of Presidents Truman and Quirino. Article VII: ratification under constitutional processes; entry into force on the exchange of instruments in Manila — 27 August 1952. It is not the 1947 Military Bases Agreement, nor ANZUS of the following day, nor the 2014 EDCA.

The preamble reaffirms the UN Charter, the shared fight in the last war and the determination to defend against external armed attack in the Pacific, without altering existing understandings. Article I: peaceful settlement of disputes and refraining from the threat or use of force contrary to the purposes of the United Nations. Article II: separately and jointly maintaining the capacity to resist armed attack — a framework, without a bases itinerary.

Article III: consultations through the Foreign Ministers or their deputies, including when the territorial integrity, political independence or security of either Party is threatened by external armed attack in the Pacific. Article IV: an armed attack in the Pacific Area on either Party is recognised as a common danger; the response follows constitutional processes and is reported at once to the Security Council, until the Council restores peace.

Article V defines, at a high level, an attack: metropolitan territory, island territories under jurisdiction in the Pacific, armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific. Article VI reserves the UN Charter. Article VIII: indefinite duration; termination on one year’s notice.

The US President ratified on 15 April 1952, after the Senate’s advice and consent. The Philippines ratified on the day of the exchange. The United States registered the instrument with the United Nations on 22 October 1953 (UNTS 2315; TIAS 2529). The official text consulted is that in the Treaty Series, not only the register’s Avalon page.

Cover: the Department of State building in Washington, the place of signature; we do not claim the hall. Wikimedia Commons, free licence.

Sources consulted: Mutual Defense Treaty (United States–Philippines); UNTS 2315 Mutual Defense Treaty.