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A. She must have said that impulsively. She knows that option was closed a long time ago. So long as I'm President, Communism will not thrive here. But that doesn't mean you can do whatever you want to do, hurt the Philippines as much as you want, and still hold the Philippines. You may just lose the Philippines—if, for instance, the Philippines were to follow a policy of neutrality. It doesn't necessarily have to join up with the Soviet Union or the People's Republic of China.
Q. Lately, you have repeatedly expressed a desire to know about U.S. contingency planning, what the U.S. would do in...
A. Let us be frank. Is the U.S. really ready to fight a land war in Asia after Viet Nam?
Q. If the Philippines were to be attacked, for instance?
A. Yes. Or not just the Philippines; suppose there's a land war in Asia.
Q. Do you believe that the U.S. has a special obligation to come to the Philippines' assistance because the U.S. has two key bases on your soil?
A. That's what I want to know. After all, those key bases were abandoned in 1941.
Q. Will you be seeking that sort of commitment from President Reagan?
A. No, no, no. I would like to know what the plans are. You see, America has always stated that it is ready to fight 1½ wars. Now they have changed this into two wars, which means that they are ready to fight in Europe as well as in Asia. Now you tell me, can they? Are you ready to fight two wars?
Q. You have placed special emphasis recently on arrangements for choosing your successor. Why the urgency at this particular time?
A. Because I'm going on a trip and anything may happen. Nobody is impervious to misfortune.
Q. You recently said that you had days when you felt like taking a vacation for six months and leaving business in the hands of the Executive Committee. Is that a realistic option?
A. Yes, I would like to see whether my supposed successors can really operate the government without causing a crisis. If by 1987 I decide not to run, those fellows who take over had better know how to run the government. What better way to find out than to let them run it, for a while, when I'm around and can rectify any mistakes?
Q. You have always denied that your wife would succeed you, yet she was named to the Executive Committee last month. How do you explain that?
A. Members of the K.B.L. [the ruling New Society Movement] caucus said, "Let's talk now about what should be done in order to strengthen the leadership that may follow you." This was their argument: Any new President must get the support of the First Lady, otherwise there may be division in political leadership; so we have to agree that while she is a member of the Executive Committee, she is not going to be President, she's not going to be Prime Minister.
* Sugar, cordage, rice, cigars, scrap and filler tobacco, coconut oil and pearl buttons.