In a banquet given in honor of the officials of the Department of Education and superintendents of public schools, the Director General of the Military Administration gave us a glimpse of the kind of independence the Philippines is going to enjoy. “The independence which you are going to obtain”, he said, “will be complete and absolute. It will be an independence as real as what the Filipinos have been dreaming of for centuries.” Then, with a truly Japanese logic, he added, “Japan will maintain the role of a protector, but the Philippines will not be a protectorate. The internal affairs will be managed by Filipinos, while Japan protects the Philippines from the outside.”
The press added the following: “On hearing these declarations, the audience rejoiced exceedingly.”
Japan will be the protector, but the Philippines will not be a protectorate!