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P.I. cheers Ike plea for unity

P.I. cheers Ike plea for unity

President Eisenhower addresses a joint session of the Philippine Congress in June, 1960.

President Eisenhower addresses a joint session of the Philippine Congress in June, 1960.

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MANILA — President Eisenhower praised constructive nationalism at a packed joint session of the Philippine Congress Wednesday and branded Russia and Red China as colonialists who fear nationalism.

The President drew loud applause when he called for cooperation between the United States and the Philippines as sovereign equals.

Eisenhower arrived at the special gathering of Congress sunburned and smiling after placing a wreath on a monument dedicated to Filipino hero Jose Rizal and holding closed door discussions with President Carlos Garcia.

In his address on the second day of his three-day visit, Eisenhower pointed out that 33 lands with a population of almost 1 billion people were once subject to Western control and have achieved peaceful self-determination.

"During the same period," he said, "12 countries in the Sino-Soviet sphere have been forcibly deprived of their independence. The question might be asked. who are today the colonialists.

"The basic antagonism of the Communist system to anything which it cannot control is the single, most important cause of the tension between the free nations in all their variety on the one hand, and, on the other, the rigidly controlled communist bloc."

He said the "existence, the prosperity, the prestige of the Republic of the Philippines" proves the falsity of communist propaganda charges that the United States seeks power over all the peoples of the world.

Praising what he termed constructive nationalism, the President said it was "essential to the development of a voting nation.

"Communist leaders fear constructive nationalism as a mortal foe. This fear is evident in the continuing efforts of the communist conspiracy to penetrate nationalist movements, to pervert them and to pirate them for their own evil objectives.

"To dominate — if they can — the eternal impulse of national patriotism, they use force and threats of force, subversion and bribery, propaganda and spurious promises. They deny the dignity of men and have subjected the many millions to the execution of master plans dictated in faraway places."

In a: reference to American policies today, the President stated the United States "must remain strong and always faithful to its friends, making clear that propaganda pressures, rocket rattling and even open aggression are bound to fail."

He said the United States seeks to expand collective security, beyond the guarantees of American strength.

"SEATO demonstrates what can be accomplished," he said. "Since its inception not one inch of free Southeast Asia territory has been lost to an aggressor."