Editor's note: The Mutual Defense Treaty is considered the "mother
treaty' of the Visiting Forces agreement, the Military Assistance
Agreement and the defunct Military Bases Agreement, as well as other
future Philippine-US military agreements. The MDT was concurred in by
the Philippine Senate , SR No. 84, May 12, 192. The Philippine
instrument of ratification was signed by the President, Aug. 27, 1952.
The Agreement entered into force, August 27, 1952, upon the exchange
of ratification between the parties. It was proclaimed by the
Philippine President, Proclamation No. 341, S. 1952.
The
Parties to this Treaty
Reaffirming their faith in the purposes and principles of the Charter of
the United Nations and their desire to live in peace with all peoples
and all governments, and desiring to strengthen the fabric of peace in
the Pacific area.
Recalling with mutual pride the historic relationship which brought
their two peoples together in a common bond of sympathy and mutual
ideals to fight side-by-side against imperialist aggression during the
last war.
Desiring to declare publicly and formally their sense of unity and
their common determination to defend themselves against external armed
attack, so that no potential aggressor could be under the illusion that
either of them stands alone in the Pacific area.
Desiring further to strengthen their present efforts for collective
defense for the preservation of peace and security pending the
development of a more comprehensive system of regional security in the
Pacific area.
Agreeing that nothing in this present instrument shall be
considered or interpreted as in any way or sense altering or diminishing
any existing agreements of understandings between the Republic of the
Philippines and the United States of America.
Have
agreed as follows:
ARTICLE I. The parties undertake,
as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, to settle any
international disputes in which they may be involved by peaceful means
in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are
not endangered and to refrain in their international relation from the
threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of
the United Nations.
ARTICLE II. In order more
effectively to achieve the objective of this Treaty, the Partners
separately and jointly by self-help and mutual aid will maintain and
develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack.
ARTICLE III. The Parties, through
their Foreign Ministers or their deputies, will consult together from
time to time regarding the implementation of this Treaty and whenever in
the opinion of either of them the territorial integrity, political
independence or security of either of the Parties is threatened by
external armed attack in the Pacific.
ARTICLE IV. Each Party recognizes
that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the Parties would
be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act
to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional
processes.
Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof
shall be immediately reported to the Security Council of the United
Nations. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has
taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace
and security.
ARTICLE V. For the purpose of
ARTICLE IV, an armed attack on either of the Parties is deemed to
include an armed attack on the metropolitan territory of either of the
Parties, or the island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific
ocean, its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific.
ARTICLE VI. This Treaty does not
affect and shall not be interpreted as affecting in any way the rights
and obligations of the Parties under the Charter of the United Nations
or the responsibility of the United Nations for the maintenance of
international peace and security.
ARTICLE VII. This Treaty shall be
ratified by the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of
America in accordance with their respective constitutional processes and
will come into force when instruments of ratification thereof have been
exchanged by them at Manila.
ARTICLE VIII. This Treaty shall
remain in force indefinitely. Either party may terminate it one year
after notice has been given to the other party.
In witness
whereof the undersigned plenipotentiaries have signed this Treaty.
Done in duplicate at Washington this thirtieth day of August, 1951.
For the Republic of
the Philippines:
(Sgd.) CARLOS P. ROMULO
(Sgd.) JOAQUIN M. ELIZALDE
(Sgd.) VICENTE J. FRANCISCO
(Sgd.) DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL
For the United States of America:
(Sgd.) DEAN ACHESON
(Sgd.) JOHN FOSTER DULLES
(Sgd.) TOM CONNALLY
(Sgd.) ALEXANDER WILEY
