Evening star., 1943-10-14
Philippines Freed
By Japan, Laurel
Becomes President
Puppet Regime Set Up
Under Thumb of Army;
Military Rule dissolved
BY The As sociated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Oct. l4.-Japan
proclaimed the independence"
of the Philippines today in a
series Of propaganda broadcasts.
and announced the Inauguration
Of Jose P. Laurel as first Presi-
dent of puppet republican
government set up under the
thumb of japanese armed forces.
The Office of War Information
quoted the Toxic radio as saying
Laurel took the oath of office in
Manila at $40 a m. $40 pm, East
ern war time Wednesday, and 10
minutes later issued the declaration
of independence of the Philippine
Republic
! Laurel, according to the Toxic
broadcast, hailed Japan as the
great power of East Asia" who was
granting the Filipinos their freedom
as an example of justice in the
history of mankind"
The empire of Japan. which in
| this great war has the mission to
llberate the oppressed races"
Laurels proclamation said. has
banlShed Occidental domination
from the Philippines and has COL
laborated with all the means at her
( disposal in the formation of the
independent Philippine nation. We
. have now attained the glory of
/ seeing the honor OF the national
/ race restored.
All Resources Pledged.
Before the world we are now a
free and independent people. Hence
forth we shall not belong TO any
foreign power All rights and in
terests of the nation will be REIN
tegrated and guarded. For national
defense and in order to maintain
our independence. We pledge all our
/ resources for the defense of the
fatherland.
Laurel said one Of his detectives
would be to constitute the nation
AS an integral state Of the East Asia
co-prosperity sphere and in this way
contribute to the creation of new
Oluel III me WOflQ.
Prior to mis- Inauguration. Toxic
said, Gen. Shigenofi Kuroda. jap
aneSe commander in the Philip
pines. issued an order officially
'dlSSolVing the military admins
tratlon-but there was no intima-
ton that Japan had any intention
OF relaxing her military control
over the islands
In his decree Ger. Kuroda told
the Filipinos that their future Is
/ brilliant and promising. but that
radiance must not dazzle your ewes
to overlook the many hardshjps
that lie before YOU"
AS preliminary to the declara-
ton of independence" Japan an
nounced last week that Shozo Mu-
rata. adviser to the military ad-
minlStration. had been named "Spe-
clal Ambassador to the Philippines.
Burma Previously Freed"
The Flllpinois are the second
people to be accorded their free
Gcm" by Toxic while still remain
me to all intents and purposes COM
ple;ely dominated by japan. Burma
previously was similarly freed"
The obvious propaganda pu--
4 poses behind the japanese move in
the Philippines were indicated By
Toxic broadcast. reported by the
owl, which said Japans "7ltru-
istic and generous act" should prove
a great stimulus for Inoias struo-
gle. Ioklo's propa9andists have
promised Independence to India.
Laurel. a former minister Of the
interior III the Philippines, has been
acting as a puppet administrator
under the japanese since they took
over the islands. He was wounded
by an assa gsin's sfot on the Manila
solC course last May.
Manuel QueZon. the constitu-
tional President of the Philippne
Commonwealth. is now in the
United States.