In the course of our first long official interview with the General, he informed us that we were "an injection into an otherwise normal situation." He added that we had already mediatized the volume of work that flowed over his desk.

At the moment none of us were quite sure what he meant, but we found the word in the dictionary.

How often in the weary years that were to follow I wished that some one would materially mediatize the task which fell to my lot! It was General MacArthur's honestly held and frankly expressed opinion that what the Filipinos needed was "military government pinned to their backs for ten years with bayonets." He later changed that view very radically, and when civil provincial governments were finally established it was with his approval, and, in many instances, upon his specific recommendation.
At the outset some effort was made to keep the public away from us.

Word was passed that we had no authority, which was true enough, as our legislative activities were not to begin until September 1.

The ninety days which intervened were very advantageously spent in gaining familiarity with the situation, which we had no difficulty in doing.