Manila, The Malacañan Palace, Wednesday, 8 December 1948
Ramon Magsaysay, special assistant to Minister of Defense De La Vega, waited in his office, located in a quiet corner of the palace. He had left instruction that his visitor was to be brought directly there, for officially there was no meeting. Matters in the Senate had reached an impasse, one that Magsaysay hoped could be resolved. A knock on his door announced the arrival of his visitor, and Magsaysay rose.
“Don Andreas, thank you for coming under such unusual circumstances.”
Senator Soriano acknowledged the greeting. “Senor, your message suggested the question of the fleet law could be resolved. I am very interested in hearing how you think this can be accomplished.” Soriano sat, unbidden, but Magsaysay raised no objection.
“Senator, you know that the Naval Staff has convinced some members of the council of the need for a battlecruiser, now. Minister De La Vega has supported their position but has asked me to evaluate the fiscal arguments brought forward by Hernández and Melchor and I have done so. It would seem that the Naval Staff has miscalculated.”
Soriano inclined his head to one side, but let the younger man continue.
“Given the demands for funding of the construction already in hand and the other vessels to be laid down under the proposed law, it would not be possible for us to lay down the battlecruiser before the middle of next year, and the ship would not come off the ways for nearly three years. Who knows what might happen in that time?”
“This is so.” Soriano nodded. At least Magsaysay grasped the essentials.
“Moreover, a single battlecruiser, however impressive, is of doubtful tactical utility. There are a number of younger officers who would see construction of a larger number of smaller cruisers.”
“The Jeune École…” Soriano added. “Their thinking has dominated our decisions for several years now. How many more little light cruisers would they have us build?”
“None. My research has disclosed that several years ago a design study for a heavy cruiser was completed; if brought up to date it would be an option of slightly less cost but one available far more quickly.”
“Yes, Teves argued for one before he took up his diplomatic post in Cleito.”
“Senator, I believe that Minister De La Vega can be convinced to support construction of a pair of such vessels.”
Soriano considered the suggestion. Two heavy cruisers made far more sense than a prestige battlecruiser; and he could use Teves as a lever to win the support of his supporters in the Senate.
“Senor, your arguments have merit. Perhaps we can meet with Minister De La Vega at his convenience…”