Journal. [1966]

United States meet his demanding obligations in this
Southeast Asian Area.
During this year the Chamber's membership decreased
from 249 to 234. Of this reduction, ten members were
dropped because of non-payment of dues, and their accounts written off. With considerable interest, we note
the entrance of a handful of prominent American corporations into Philippine industry, a likely source of new memberships.
During this past year the Chamber's Department of
Economic Research and Information was phased out.
Instituted in 1964, this project never had been able to
approach its goals, while its heavy expenses threatened
the Chamber's existence. Various remedial proposals
proved to be impractical, and, when the mid-year forecast
of the excellent clipping service fell well below the breakeven level, two years' high hopes vanished completely.
However, there is a legacy which can be of value.
This is a survey of American interests in the Philippines
which would be affected by the termination of the LaurelLangley Agreement in 1974, or possibly earlier. This is
jointly sponsored by the Philippine American Chamber of
Commerce, in New York, and your Chamber here in the
Philippines. After considerable correspondence, and conferences, both here and in New York, the details of the
questionnaire and program were settled. New York has
mailed the questionnaire to a list of addresses compiled
by your Chamber. And some of you have already received
your questionnaire.
After accomplishment, these should be returned to
New York for tabulation. The resulting data, without
identification of individual entities' participation, will be
given discreet distribution.
This Chamber is to follow up the questionnaires in
order to obtain the most complete data at the earliest
possible date. Your prompt and earnest cooperation is,
therefore, most sincerely requested.
The Chamber's publications received lengthy scrutiny
because cf their we k fina ncial ccnditicn, which are
principally caused by the trade's custcmary time lag in
the indirect collection of advertising revenues. This was
compounded by the bankruptcy of an advertising agency
a few months ago.
As stated in your Treasurer's Report, the outgoing
Board has withheld approval of a further edition of a
yearbook directory, while the 1966-67 edition is still in
the printer's hands.
On the brighter side, our Weekly Business Letter
has been improved by a new editor, a new outlook, and a
new format. The resulting increase in circulation and
revenue, is most gratifying.
Your Directors, after reviewing the Chamber's staff
payroll, granted salary increases among the staff in an
aggregate amount approaching ten percent.
The Chamber's Librarian, Mrs. Mary Kapst, resigned
a few months ago in order to accept a much more lucrative
position. In her years with us, she quietly, courteously,
and efficiently organized our library and trained her successor, an excellent record.

The Chamber enjoys a cordial entree at the Embassy,
a situation which we believe to be mutually advantageous.
For this, thanks are due to Ambassador Blair, his predecessor, and his staff for their policy of mingling outside of
the cloisters of diplomacy.
Your Chamber has continued its service and personal
relations program with the executive officers of the Philippine Government, with the Chamber of Commerce of the
Philippines, with the Philippine Chamber of Industries,
with the Mandaluyong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and with the Philippine Council of the International Chamber of Commerce. The continuance of this
program is strongly recommended to the incoming Directors and, especially, to my successor, upon whom much
of the burden will fall.
At the close of two years as President of your Chamber,
I must express my sincere appreciation of the concrete
assistance willingly given by fellow members, of the prompt
cheerful cooperation of the Chamber's staff, of the patient
and imaginative devotion of your Directors and Officers
to the Chamber's affeairs.
For the intangible compensation of experience and
association, which have made my service a pleasure, thank
you, one and all.
October 27, 1966
The New Chamber Board
T the 43rd annual meeting of the American Chamber
of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc., held at the
Plaza, Makati, late in the afternoon of October
28, seven of the nine directors were reelected and two men,
Messrs. W. A. Powers and J. J. Wolahan, were elected
to take the places of Messrs. W. W. Donnelly and P. A.
Tileston who did not stand for reelection.
Immediately after adjournment, the directors held a
short meeting and organized the Board as follows:
President: A. W. Dunn (Vice-President and General
Manager, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. of the Phils.
Ltd.)
Vice-President: G. H. White (General Manager,
ESSO Standard Eastern, Inc.)
Treasurer: C. R. Butler (President, Philippine
Acetylene Co., Inc.)
Director: Earl Carroll (Chairman of the Board,
The Philippine American Insurance Companies.)
Director: A. J. Gibbs (Partner, Ozaeta, Gibbs &
Ozaeta.)
Director: D. I. Marshall (President, Luzon Stevedoring Corp.)
Director: W. A. Powers (General Manager, General
Electric Philippines, Inc.)
Director: A. Soriano Jr. (President, A. Soriano y
Cia.)
Director: J. J. Wolahan (Managing Director, Caltex
(Philippines) Inc.)
Executive Vice-President: S. N. Fisher.
Secretary: I. T. Salmo.

556

THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCZ
November, 1966