Underground Inaugural

In an air-raid shelter somewhere in the Philippines, behind Douglas MacArthur's embattled lines, mercurial little Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina was sworn in for his second term as President of the Philippine Commonwealth. From his underground refuge he could hear the muffled slam of big guns, the faint tattoo of antiaircraft fire, the soft thud of Japanese bombs falling on his land, his people.

If he had any doubts of his country's course, he did not show them. Said Manuel Quezon: "No matter what sufferings and sacrifices the war imposes on us, we stand by America with undaunted spirit. ... I humbly invoke the help of Almighty God that I may have the wisdom and fortitude to carry out this solemn obligation."

Three days earlier, when Japanese troops closing in on Manila forced him to evacuate his capital, Manuel Quezon had left behind a four-man Cabinet to meet the invaders. Although tall, almond-eyed Vice President Sergio Osmeña was a member of this Cabinet, he was not its head. For Quezon was at political odds with his Vice President. In charge of the Cabinet—as Prime Minister—he left his personal friend and secretary, Jorge B. Vargas.

What had happened to Quezon, Osmeña & Co. this week, nobody knew. President Quezon was supposedly still with MacArthur, probably in the island fortress of Corregidor. If Corregidor should fall, Quezon might be spirited away by plane to Australia, and there set up a Government in exile.

But it was not the Filipino leaders, important as they are, whose impending fate disturbed the U.S. It was the Filipino people. Will they hold out against the brutalities—or, more likely, the blandishments—of their Japanese conquerors? That was a question which could not be answered off the cuff.

The Filipino Army, trained by General MacArthur and led by its own officers, has put up a magnificent fight against the Jap invaders. Said Joaquin Miguel ("Mike") Elizalde, Resident Commissioner for the Philippines in the U.S.: "We will continue to fight for our native soil, foot by foot, on whatever fronts are necessary." But the Filipino Army, with MacArthur's USAFFE, is virtually defeated.

It was to be expected that the Japanese would set up a vassal Government in Manila, put at its head a puppet President. Who? Not Manuel Quezon: even though Quezon in the past has shown no antipathy toward the Japs, Quezon is now committed to a last-ditch defense. And not Sergio Osmeña: the lean, calm, white-haired Vice President of the Philippines is half Chinese.

If the Japs try to vichyate the Filipinos, a counterpart of Vichy's Marshal Pétain might be found. There is, for instance, 72-year-old General Emilio Aguinaldo, national Filipino hero who led a bloody insurrection against the U.S. army of occupation in 1899. Erect, small, Prussian-haired General Aguinaldo bears no love for Manuel Quezon, has more than once had reason to accuse his people of ingratitude. Said General Aguinaldo, just a year ago: "The Japanese have great respect for the Filipino people and much sympathy for us."