| When examining the relationship between the United States and the Philippines, there are two aspects to it that are curious. The first is that the Diosdado Macapagal presidential administration dating from 1961-1965 is all but ignored by historians. The second curiosity is the fact that the United States government, and more than a few Filipinos, have claimed the relationship to be "special." This is odd since the United States tended to treat the Philippine Republic with less respect than European countries and other Asian nations. On the other hand, Filipinos generally held Americans in higher regard than any other people, including themselves.;When World War II ended, the United States government, realizing that the Philippine economy was devastated after World War II, committed itself to helping rebuild its former colony. Unfortunately, this commitment fell short as special interests, inside and outside the government, were influential in dictating the terms of American economic help.;There were also difficulties with the American military bases. The major problem was the fact the Pentagon refused to give the Philippine government jurisdiction over serious crimes committed by American military personnel. In other countries the host country had jurisdiction over American servicemen, but not in the Philippines. American servicemen killed at least thirty Filipinos on military bases between 1948 and 1963. The Philippine government never got the opportunity to try any of the accused, and usually, the accused were never tried in military court.;This investigation, therefore, concerns the United States' economic, military, and political policies toward the Philippines. As a result, this manuscript will show that the "special relationship" never existed as defined by the American government. |
