Evening star., 1950-12-03

used by China's Communist
leaders,
The Hukbalahaps-origin ally
organized as the peoples anti
Japanese army were wartime
guerrilla units on Luzon. Tactics
learned during the Japanese oc-
cupation were continued after the
war against the newly established
Philippine republic. Their "su-
premo." or leader, Luis Taruc,
demanded land division before he
would disarm his men.
Today it may be too late to
deal with Taruc and the hard core
of his army of between $4,000
and 10000 guerrillas except on a
surrender-or -or-die basis.
The Hulk army and it's leaders,
embracing militant communism
after period of milder socialism.
hope to take eventual control Of
the Philippine government to
carry out their program.
The Huks thus far have evaded
defeat by the Philippine Army by
avoiding large-scale combat. Their
hit-and-run raids are modelled
after the tactics of the Chinese
Reds.
Gradually the Huks are increas-
ing their zone of operation,
spreading through the back coun-
try over Luzon into a dozen or
more provinces. and occasionally
striking close to large metropoli-
tan centers, such as Manila.
The Hulk movement also has
spread to several adjacent islands
in the Central Philippines where
it feeds on agrarian discontent.
The Huks are in direct touch
with the leaders of world COM
munism. They now call their
forces the Peoples Liberation
Army They are spurred to hope
tor eventual success by the march
of communism on the Asiatic
mainland.
Before the Red Huks can sue
ceed, however, they must have far
more popular support than exists
today in the predominantly Cath
olic Philippines.
Not Too Late
A vigorous government program
which will improve the lot of the
low-income farm and industrial
laborers and provide them with
an incentive for standing by
democratic institutions will de-
prive the Communist Huks of any
chance of success-short of actual
invasion by Red armed forces.
That is considered far beyond the
present capacities of the Reds.
who still eye Formosa from the
China mainland.
The United States has been try
ing to instill democratic prin.
ciples into the FilipinoS for more
than so years.
It's not too late, provided there
is outside aid in money and tech
nical help, an improvement in liv-
ing standards and a chance for
every man to become landowner.
small operator or a
worker with some sense of Sc
curity.
This outlines a program quite
radical in the view of the pressure
groups which now control the
Philippines government. They are
not likely to submit tamely. On
the other hand. realists among
them are frankly frightened by
the prospects that the Huks may
succeed unless outside economic
aid comes quickly.
But they are not so frightened
as to agree to any program call
ing for higher taxes on the
wealthy. This part of the Bell
program will meet strong resist
ance. Other opposition is likely
to take the form of attempting to
divert the funds or, at least a part
of them. to the pet projects Of
politicians. Provincial powers
need government funds to keep
large numbers of their followers
on the payrolls. most of them as
special police who ruthlessiy stamp
out any opposition.
The Bell report recognizes the
possibility that the funds intend
ed for improvement Of the condi-
tions of the masses may be di-
verted to such projects. Therefore
it suggested that technical mis-
sion of Americans supervise the
spending of the aid funds. IT'is
aroused immediate opposition by
the political powers tut popular
support was 81 strong they had to
retreat.
The choice of Mr.. Foster to come
to the islands to talk things over
allowed the politicians to back
down and save face"
Mr.. Foster kept quiet publicly,
standing on the record of ECA
accomplishments in Europe as
denying any infringement of the
sovereignty of nations receiving
aid under the Marshall Plan. But
in private conferences, reliable
sources say, he firmly stood by the
Bell report and went even further
in some respects.
He told the politicos it was a
matter of accepting what the
United States offers-or getting
nothing.
Under the present close division
of votes in the American Congress,
he repeatedly told the Filipinos.
it was extremely doubtful whether
they would get any aid from Con-
gress unless they first enacted
legislation showing their good in
tentions Of carrying out admins
trative reforms, raising taxes in