In Manila last week the church bells clanged loud & long. In the shadow of Japan's ancient gods, Philippine priests muttered special masses. Gay lanterns dangled from street arches. Silk placards ' fluttered gaily. It was "Independence Day" in the Philippines—by special permission of Tokyo.
The Japs had established a Philippine totalitarian party, the Kalibapi. They had collected some unquestionably loyal quislings, headed by Puppet President José P. Laurel, a former Philippine Supreme Court Justice. At his inaugural last week, a 21-gun salute rattled over the capital.
Fortnight ago Franklin Roosevelt asked Congress for authority to proclaim the Islands' independence "as soon as...
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