Victory for Magsaysay

Ramon Magsaysay, the forthright, freewheeling young (47) President of the Philippines, is one of the staunchest friends the U.S. has in Asia. His vast popularity in the country and the immense Philippine good will towards the U.S. is often not reflected in Congress, where shrewd politicians in Magsaysay's own Nacionalista Party often succeed in putting a brake on him. Chief among them is Senator Claro Recto, 65, a brilliant, caustic lawyer who has never forgotten or forgiven the U.S. for his being put in prison at World War II's end by Douglas Mac-Arthur (Recto served as Foreign Minister under the Japanese occupation).

Last month President Magsaysay, encouraged by the U.S. decision to give treaty protection to Formosa and the Pescadores, strongly backed the U.S. "policy of firmness" and introduced in the Philippine Congress a resolution stating that "we stand squarely behind the U.S." Angry Claro Recto, an influential member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced a quibbling substitute motion, leaving out Magsaysay's words of approval and support, and reflecting Recto's neutralist way of thinking. For four weeks the Senate bitterly debated the matter. When it came to a vote last week, Neutralist Recto was utterly beaten. Of 22 sitting Senators, all but one voted with Magsaysay. The one: Claro Recto.

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