Manila, Aug. 11.
JMOCRACY in the Philippines, as envisaged under American political tutelage during the past 41 years, was thrown out the window yesterday as the National Assembly complied with President Manuel Quezon's demands for emergency power to meet an acute economic crisis created by the wars raging in two section: of the world, The Assembly yesterday passed the Emergency Defence Bill giving Sr. Quezon virtually dictatorial powers.
Despite previous bitter criticism, including charges from the floor of the Assembly that Sr. Quezon is "dictatorial minded", the Assembly approved the measure without debate by a vote of 62 to 1.
'The bill gives Sr. Quezon the pow-or legally to establish absolute control over virtually every branch of public and private enterprise; arbi-Yrarily to distribute all labour; to sequester' private property without court process; to take over any me dustry' or farm marder to ensure continued production; and to regulate Ferts and prices of all goods.
Move Constitutional Experts here believed the delegation of legislative powers to Sr. Quezon is constitutional. Violations of the act will be punished by ton years imprisonment and/or 10,000 pesos one.
Critics bitterly condemned the provision calling for the "suppression of espionage and other subversive ac-
Commons Discuss Britons Held in Japan London, Aug. 9.
In question time in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr. R. 'A. Butler, Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs stated that six Britons were still under detention by the Japa ese, nine having been released, and one died under circum= stances which are being ins vestigated.
The British Ambassador to Japan, Sir Robert Craigie, had had a number of discussions with Mr, Yosuke Matsuoka, the Foreign Minister, and it was hoped that proceedings in con= nection with these cases would be expedited—Reuter. the people as a whole, and not of a privileged class; democracy in the Phitippines will endure."
'Sr. Quezon said he realized he was asking for tremendous powers, but he said the situation calls for' action which "must be taken with courage and determination, if we are to pro-lect our people from suffering, starvation and want Passage of these measures by the assembly gave Sr, Quezon the greatest, powers ever held by one-man inder an allegedly "lemoeratie" government
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.