I would not say that the Burmese Government have behaved in the wisest possible manner over it. Yet Burma was treated as part of India, and administered under - the Government of India Act. of the Opposition for making what they are pleased; to describe as a reactionary speech of the 8o's and 90's, but there are moral questions which Leftists in these days have to answer as well as those on the Right, as to whether the ultimate results of what they advocate, of what they no doubt earnestly believe in, are quite as moral as they suppose, and whether the so-called reactionaries on some moral questions, as well as on many practical questions, may not, after all, be right. I know that we are abandoning some of our friends. So there are political police, a totalitarian regime, and the British are quitting. up the steps of Buckingham Palace as the plenipotentiary of the Burmese Government. They Parliament. The first "free" elections in Burma were not very much like free elections in this country. With its passage, Westminster relinquished nearly all of its authority to legislate for the Dominions, effectively making them de jure sovereign nations. Juli 1947 erließ die Labour-Regierung in London den Indian Independence Act. The right hon. Only a very small minority of Karens in the Delta do not agree with the arrangements which have been made. Are we not glad that the Burmese people have not only We- also know that he holds his views sincerely, and we pay him the deepest respect, but I sincerely wish that he had not expressed those views this afternoon. U Saw, also known as Galon U Saw, was a leading Burmese politician who served as Prime Minister of British Burma during the colonial era before the Second World War. 1934 The guardian does not regard it as a day of gloom when his ward achieves his 21st and learned Member for Kettering (Mr. Mitchison) are reading books which do not seem to have anything to do with the Debate. That was not a pledge which had in it the inherent gravities of this one. (b) the territories which, at the date of the passing of this Act, are included in the Province of Sind and the Chief Commissioner's Province of British Baluchistan ; and (c) if, whether before or after the passing of this Act but before the appointed day, the Governor-General declares that the majority of the valid votes cast in the referen- Nothing that we can say now can alter the act which has already been signed by the Prime Minister and the head of the Provisional Government of Burma. Secondly, can he tell us whether there is any real racial homogeneity in what we call Burma? It is still quoted occasionally, in the way in which people bring out of the lumber box of quotations one which they produce with great aplomb. It is important to recall what was said in 1931 by the Secretary of State in Parliament. In the case of Burma, it is hardly a year since, by the superb exertions of the Fourteenth Army and enormous sacrifices in life and treasure—sacrifices in British blood and in Indian blood—the Japanese were forced to surrender, destroyed, or driven out, and the country was liberated. In that case I know the House was interested. The noble Lord made a very sweeping accusation. The Trade Facilities Acts were a series of Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that were designed to alleviate the problem of large scale unemployment in the aftermath of the First World War. But do not let us forget the history of the world. It would be difficult to imagine a more serious position than that of both agriculture and industry in Burma. The right hon. MEMBER: "America."] 1928 could during our period of trusteeship. and gallant Gentlemen opposite, and, indeed, would like Burma to recognise, that there is a tradition in the Conservative Party of a very heavy feeling of responsibility towards those nations of the world for whom we have been and are acting as trustees. The exact constitutional status of the state during this period has been a matter of scholarly and political dispute. All of us, like the hon. Gamespot. Are we really confident, and is the hon. What is interesting, listening to the speeches of Members opposite, is that not one of them seemed to think that this constitution will work. I shall be only too happy to associate myself with the tribute which he has paid to them tonight. In a broadcast a few days ago, he said: Quite naturally, a time comes when the people say to us, "We can look after this territory ourselves now; why should not we do so?" I want to press the case particularly of the non-Secretary of State civil servants. It provides as follows: Lady the Member for Epping and Members opposite talk about the use of the British Army in Burma, it was to put down dacoity, to see that there was law and order, not to hold down the Burmese people. It is interesting to look at the respective parts which they played in the war. who are just as influential as those who have written to the hon. That that has not happened is, unfortunately, a bitter disappointment. I have never, since I have been here, interrupted any Member; I never give way to any Member. 29.] The end of the war found the country disturbed and full of arms; and—there is great danger in a country like Burma of dacoity—there has been a good deal of armed dacoity. 1936 As for the tribes, what else could they do? Our Government have made it clear that we were clearing out, but no one in Burma imagines that the position between the Karens and the Burmans will be either happy or pleasant for that very gallant minority. But I believe he has done the best he can do in this month of November, 1947, and so I shall support him, and in doing so I hope that Burma will be strong, peaceful and prosperous, and I hope that our relations with that independent country will always be based on friendship. After the first and the second principles, the third states: After two or three years of war, we did what we might have done before the war, hand over to the South African people their liberty. Were they fighting for the whim of a Socialist Government, so that the same country which they fought to restore, should be given away without any discussion and without any thought for what the consequences might be? Half, perhaps one-third, or one-quarter, of the British troops squandered in Palestine on a policy now abandoned, the fatuity of which is now recognised, would have sufficed to enable the transfer of power to a Burmese Government, on the basis of Dominion status, to be carried out by regular and measured steps, and with due consideration for all interests, opinions and feelings involved in that population of many various strains. There are three States within the Union, Shan, Karenni and Kachin. murdered. If the right hon. They are quite entitled to say that. My answer to that I say it would be completely wrong. I cannot conscientiously stand at this Box—with a perfectly free hand in the matter and no pressure put on me by my right hon. § Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) cast out a challenge to hon. has been the sacrifice. In conclusion, may I say this Bill is in keeping with the highest traditions of this House. I think it 1904 From some points of view, so was the partition of Poland or Hitler's pact with Mussolini. I have collected some figures which I do not think the right hon. Gentleman said that he did not feel responsible for the outrages, murders and pillage which have taken place since. All those things were true, but as it-developed the British Empire became, and has remained, the greatest influence for good in the world. He had to leave his home at a few hours' notice at the end of 1941. He said: The hon. Gentlemen can get up on the Benches apposite, or at a public meeting, and say with hypocritical unction, so dear to a section of Britain, "We have conferred the great benefit of self-government on Ruritania"? will realise that that is the feeling of this country, that we want the Burmese to be free, independent and prosperous, and to be friendly with us and I hope that these things will be realised. Some 16 months ago I criticised the Government because I thought that they did not realise that fact. Member for Sedgefield (Mr. Leslie), the hon. It has been done in a hurry. This is a sad day in the history of the British Empire. Can anyone with a sense of responsibility, and with the example of India before them, take this step in that light-hearted way shown by hon. and gallant Gentleman said. Soon after the grant of independence to the new dominions of India and Pakistan in 1947, independence came to Burma in 1948, as a republic outside the Commonwealth. Nobody seems willing to look back to the times when we had bloodshed, violence, regicide and civil war when we were fighting our own way upwards to democracy. Gentleman's view of this Bill strikes at the very foundation of the British Commonwealth of Nations as we know it today. I know it has been said that the Karens, apart from the dwellers on the Delta, have entered this new Constituent Assembly. In any case the Japanese invaded Burma because that was part of the Japanese policy of attack against this country and her allies. The fact that a few of the highest posts of administration in our country have been given to Anglo-Burmese for the first time in our history is further proof of the Premier's recent assurances to us and I call upon each one in my community to give of his best in the service of our country. and right hon. We could have given them their independence and made them free Dominions, as we were forced to do afterwards, without all that fighting and bloodshed. These events had, naturally, a profound effect on the people of Burma. In Section 219 it states that all mines, minerals, and so on 1856 Government, with regard to this Bill, on Imperialistic and moral grounds. ing and thus to make a better House, what I said at the beginning of my speech, that the condition laid down in the White Paper was that self-government should be conferred on Burma by gradual stages; in other words, when Burma was ready. They cannot be produced by Burma itself. That is not facing the reality. Members who have spoken from the Opposition Benches. Therefore, I submit to the House that it is not the case that the conditions which were adumbrated in the White Paper have not yet happened, but that, in fact, they have, and that we are, therefore, entitled to allow, as was pointed out in a subsequent paragraph, that constituent Assembly to meet and to draft their Constitution. 17. An Act to make provision for the setting up in India of two independent Dominions, to substitute other provisions for certain provisions of the Government of India Act,1935 which apply outside those Dominions, and to provide for other matters consequential on or connected with the setting up of those Dominions. 1860 Does he know how Burma is to protect itself? We dissociate ourselves; we wash our hands of it. 1945 and right hon. I knew Burma in days gone by when it was a happy land, with charming people liked by the Europeans, and when the greatest friendship possible existed between the European administrators and the Burmese. The noble Lord was a party to the passing of the Government of Burma Act, 1935, and the present Government of Burma are operating under the provisions of that Act as amended by various orders. Friend took the opportunity of lifting the lid a little, and showing something of the real difficulties we have to face. Perhaps the right hon. 4. This agreement was come to between ourselves as two equal States. That is the right sense of developing civilisation throughout the world. The Tory belief in Empire means, "Be dominated by us. the original Act, without amendments, is reproduced below] Source/publisher: Govt. The departure from the British family of nations of one of its members must be an occasion for deep regret. Friend the Member for Woodford said, there are large areas of Burma where dacoity exists, where there is murder and wholesale gang robbery going on. TVGuide.com. Indeed, I am told that through these mountainous regions, this half circle of mountains and hills about which the Prime Minister spoke, there is a condition of armed preparation and incipient revolt prevailing. I wish them the best of fortune in overcoming their difficult economic situation, in restoring law and order, in ridding the country of dacoity and in building stability and happiness for their people. Not one of them pretended that the people of Burma will be anything except worse of economically as a result of this change. Although, if it is carried, Burma will leave the British Commonwealth, there will remain memories and ties of friendship between the two countries which will endure. That is my answer to the very reasoned speech of my hon. There were six primary provisions in the ‘Indian Independence Act’ 1947. That is all right. Member is one of the sinners who has come to the penitents' bench. Member for Wood Green (Mr. Baxter) raised a point which interested me very much. The first provision stated that British India will be divided into two fully sovereign dominions of Pakistan and India and that the newly formed dominions can form their own government with effect from August 15, 1947. I feel that the complete failure of many hon. This, as I shall show, has been done in the new Constitution. They do not seem able to allow their children to stand on their own feet. 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