THE PHILIPPINES: Prelude to Dictatorship?

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Behind all Mr. Quezon's dance steps was the threat of Japan, crouching 1,300 nautical miles north, her horn-rimmed eyes on British and Dutch Borneo and Australia, one nostril delicately cocked at the Philippines. A Japanese once remarked to a Filipino politician in Manila: "If we invade you it will only be to teach you that you are not occidentals." As Mr. Quezon well knows, Japan would not even have to make a military invasion. Quezon's islands would drop like ripe fruit. Japanese farmers already have a strong foothold in the archipelago, and Philippine independence would mean the end of a U. S. market which has absorbed 85% of Philippine products. Recently Quezon had his Assembly pass an immigration law, aimed at Japanese infiltration, limiting the quota of every country to 500 a year. Commenting on this law, a Japanese Foreign Office spokesman said silkily: "It is our intention to make the Philippines understand our just position and take measures accordingly."

As Japan played the soft music for Quezon's dips and turns, last week it was apparent that Quezon had begun to dance still more exotic steps. Imperious boss of the Islands but still subject to their U. S.-made laws, Quezon has proposed an amendment to the Tydings-McDuffie Act which would permit him to run for a second term as President of the Commonwealth, then let a chosen subordinate hold the office until he can run again in 1945 and become the first President of the new sovereign State. The Filipinos approved the amendment in a plebiscite. Mr. Roosevelt's signature is all that is necessary to make it law — and wily Quezon scarcely anticipates a veto from President Roosevelt. Quezon has also asked and obtained from the Assembly "emergency" powers which give him authority to suppress espionage, prohibit strikes or lockouts, mobilize citizens for whatever productive pusuits he deems necessary. On the subject of the State he has proclaimed: "Organized society is predicated upon the willingness of men to limit their freedom in the interest of the well-being of the entire community." On the subject of Democracy he announced last month that the two-party system was a "fetish," not necessary. Said Manuel Quezon: "Political parties are good only for evil things."

A movement is afoot to change the name of the Islands to "Quezon." Already there is a Quezon City. Students of the State-supported University of the Philippines have organized a Quezon-for-King Club. It was apparent last week to many an observer that the Philippines, given ten years to learn how a democracy should be run, were instead learning how to run a dictatorship. It was the first Government under the U. S. flag to edge towards totalitarianism.