Page:Implementation of the Manila Accord.djvu/3



No. 2587

The Department of Foreign Affairs presents its compliments to the Ministry of External Affairs of Malaysia and has the honor to acknowledge the assurance contained in its Note No. BY 6/66 dated 7 February 1966 referring to the outstanding claim of the Republic of the Philippines to Sabah.

In this connection, the Department wishes to invite attention to the Manila Accord of July 31, 1963, which provides in paragraph 12 thereof as follows:

"The Philippines made it clear that its position on the inclusion of North Borneo in the Federation of Malaysia is subject to the final outcome of the Philippine claim to North Borneo. The Ministers took note of the Philippine claim and the right of the Philippines to continue to pursue it in accordance with international law and the principle of the pacific settlement of disputes. They agreed that the inclusion of North Borneo in the Federation of Malaysia would not prejudice either the claim or any right thereunder. Moreover, in the context of their close association, the three countries agreed to exert their best endeavours to bring the claim to a just and expeditious solution by peaceful means, such as negotiation, conciliation, arbitration, or judicial settlement as well as other means of the parties' own choice, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and the Bandung Declaration."

The Department wishes to invite further attention to paragraph 8 of the Joint Statement accompanying the said Manila Accord which reads as follows:

"... The three Heads of Government take cognizance of the position regarding the Philippine claim to Sabah (North Borneo) after the establishment of the Federation of Malaysia as provided under paragraph 12, of the Manila Accord, that is, that the inclusion of Sabah (North Borneo) in the Federation of Malaysia does not prejudice either the claim or any right thereunder."

The Department wishes to invite attention furthermore to the Philippine Government's declaration in its aide m moire of November 19, 1964 particularly its paragraph which reads as follows:

"The Philippine Government is gratified to note that the Malaysian Government's statement to the effect 'that Malaysia has assumed all