Morgan Stanley Tax Exempt Securities Trust DEF 14A Definitive proxy

                     [LETTERHEAD OF CLIFFORD CHANCE US LLP]


June 12, 2006

VIA EDGAR
---------

Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
100 F Street, NE
Washington, D.C.  20549

Re:      Morgan Stanley Fixed Income Funds
         (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds")

Ladies and Gentlemen:

On behalf of the Funds, we transmit for filing under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, each as amended, a definitive
copy of the following documents:

(i)      a notice of meeting, joint proxy statement, form of proxy and form of
         voting instruction card relating to a special meeting of shareholders
         of each Fund, for the election of Trustees/Directors and changes to
         certain of the fundamental investment policies of the Funds, in the
         form in which such material is to be furnished by the management of
         each Fund to the Fund's shareholders; and

(ii)     Schedule 14A.

The Funds anticipate mailing copies of the definitive notice of meeting, joint
proxy statement and form of proxy on or about June 14, 2006. No fee is required
in connection with this filing. If you have any questions concerning the
foregoing, please call Richard Horowitz at (212) 878-8110.

Best Regards,

/s/ Richard Horowitz

Richard Horowitz

cc:      Edward Meehan