Whereas the Filipino people during the whole period of subjection to alien rule unremittingly laboured for freedom and independence and to this end fought two wars and countless revolutions; whereas upon attainment by the Philippines of her cherished goal of freedom and independence and on the occasion of the inauguration of the Republic of Philippines on October 14, 1943, the President appealed to all nations and peoples of the world for amity and goodwill and, to the United States of America especially pleaded that the Philippines be spared suffering and destruction incident to the resumption of military operations on our soil; whereas notwithstanding the appeal, the United States of America and Great Britain attacked from the air certain parts of the Philippines, thereby violating the territorial integrity of the Republic and causing death or injury to citizens and destruction or damage to property; whereas the Philippines must safeguard its independence and territorial integrity as every self-respecting sovereign State is in honour bound to do; and whereas the Republic of the Philippines entered into the pact of alliance with Japan based on mutual respect of sovereignty and territories to safeguard territorial integrity and independence of the Philippines:
Now, therefore, I, Jose Laurel, President of the Republic of the Philippines, do hereby proclaim that a state of war exists between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America and Great Britain effective 10 a.m. September 23, 1944.