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"? The hon. I would remind the House that Mr. Amery, at that time the Secretary of State, said that that period was not a minimum or a definite period, but that it was a permissive and precautionary period. When I was in Rangoon I found there, as I found in India, that writings and speeches of that kind had left a mark which will be difficult to eradicate. Unfortunately, it is equally true that self-government does not necessarily imply the retention of impartial justice and reasonable equality for all the religious and racial elements in a' mixed community such as Burma, which alien rule, so far as it can, guarantees. But because it is an accomplished fact, because we want to send out to the Burmese people the good wishes of this House, and because we hope that the Government will be right, I will not vote against it. He said they were corrupt, and I said the present Government was not corrupt as compared with any other Burmese politicians—I do not say with all other Governments, because I do not know all the other Governments which have held office in Burma. He has been criticised today because he is considered by the Government not to be constructive and to be irresponsible. Those hon. This article is about British nationality law in respect of citizens of Ireland. What did my right hon. 3. Then there was a highly lyrical pamphlet issued by the Labour Party, "Fifty Things Labour has Done." What an astonishing thing it is, if one looks at it from a practical point of view and gets rid of all the sentimental Leftism which has imbued so many of the speeches from the opposite benches, that after the admittedly deplorable damage done to Burma by the fact that a big war was waged within her boundaries we, as a nation which above all others has in its long history been successful in restoring a country of that kind—putting back the railways and restoring the communications that have been destroyed—should have left and given up the work when the country is in the deplorable state it is in today. This Bill marks a further step in the development of a policy which, I am convinced, represents the true, democratic genius of the British people. Subsection (3) makes provision for the termination of suzerainty over the Kerenni States. It envisaged the drawing up of a constitution by representatives of the Burmese people with a view to full self-government. 1893 The speech of the right hon. The acts enabled companies to borrow money, with the capital and interest guaranteed by the government, for projects which would create employment. I said: The other is, whilst recognising unfortunate characteristics and facets, to look to the best, to think of the best, and to expect the best from those whom we desire to be our friends. Is he completely convinced in his heart that Burma in its present condition, with its inexperience in leadership and everything else, will be able to maintain its independence as a nation in view of the expanding influences and ambitions of other great and powerful nations? I am glad, for my part, that we on this side of the House do not share it. This Bill will not stop the machine gun bullet or the knife of a dacoit, and it will not stop murder and rapine. If that is implemented we shall be in the interesting position of Finding an example set for us by one of the newest nations in the world. There are dacoits, and all sorts of trouble exists there still. That speech left an indelible impression on my mind. Till then, do not let Britain transfer any power, or else, let Britain never again speak of honour or honourable dealings. we should have some regard, not for theories, but for the effect on the ordinary Burman man and woman. I ask hon. They were seething with nationalism. As far as I am concerned, I say without hesitation that I propose to give unqualified support to my right hon. We are deciding whether we should vote for the independence of Burma or not. My hon. What was the state of the people after we reconquered Burma? In the last six or seven months the right hon. The Act received the Royal Assent on 18 July 1947 and thus India and Pakistan, comprising West and East regions, came into being on 15 August. 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. The House will recall that Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith retired through ill-health. That statement has always been relied upon by Burmese political leaders as a pledge to the people of Burma that whatever advance should be conceded to India should equally apply to Burma. 1892 I am the last person to suggest for a moment that only the people of this country or the people of Europe are capable of self-government. That is not the case. In August, there were 168 murders and 1,269 robberies, and in September the figures were higher. Gentleman's interruption accurately in one respect—that there has never been a less corrupt Government than there is in Burma today—does he really suggest that the Burma Government is less corrupt than other Burma Governments? I trust that the Motion to give 1909 Government, with regard to this Bill, on Imperialistic and moral grounds. However, as I retired from practice at the Bar more than 30 years ago I will content myself with trying to give the broad provisions of the Clause from the point of view of the layman. I think I was over-optimistic in expressing the hope that it would prove to be a success. On the political side, to which I am only going to devote a very short time, I feel that my objection to this Bill is based on the fact that to some extent—quite possibly unintentionally—it is a sham, and that it does not do, cannot do, and will not do, what it expresses as its intention. I have no constructive alternative to offer. Members opposite is terrible to see in action—the optimism that there would be no cold weather last winter, the Burma, in general, has so many races and considerable social contrasts that one cannot call her a homogeneous community. I am sure that not only hon. Friends who are not prepared to vote against this Bill tonight. I doubt whether it would have been possible to make a Constitution which did not give them equal pay for equal work. I mentioned that I was an English Member of Parliament at which, to-my great annoyance, there were shouts of laughter. I can remember that even when I was a boy my nickname at school was "Indian Famine Fund" because I was so thin. They were not engaged through the Secretary of State but as servants of the. In September of this year, 172 people were murdered. 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?" For that reason—and only because of the inexperience of the Civil Service—it will be a problem which must be considered by the Burmese people before they press too hard for extensive nationalisation. Will they give us an answer to them tonight? wicked days of the British—so disliked by Members opposite; they think it terrible that the British actually governed another country successfully—there was a balanced budget of £13 million. Friend the Member for Farnham (Mr. Nicholson) asked a supplementary question about an individual, and, as I see it, to try to explain his trend of thought and, I hope, that of the Government, the Prime Minister replied: Members of this House have any commercial interests in Burma, but if so, in my opinion they might as well write them right off, because they will never see their money back again. So I cannot join with the hon. If the policy of the right hon. I hope it will be memories of such events that will be treasured by us in the future, and I wish well to this new Government and this people. As the statute removed nearly all of the British parliament's authority to legislate for the Dominions, it had the effect of making the Dominions largely sovereign nations in their own right. Indian Independence Act 1947. That was conveyed to me, and I think to many other hon. 431, c. 2343. Friend does not take that view. We made America fight for it. He dryly criticised the Government for putting the future of Burma in the hands of such "outstanding authorities". I will withdraw then. At the earliest moment when these intentions to hustle the whole process through were known—although at that time the right hon. Otherwise, he would not speak of these as being days of gloom. Why should not Anglo-Burmans be given the right hon loyalties have been even shorter but what... Noes, 114 independent Union of Burma was initially setup as a hero his. Commend the Bill upon the conscience of the Leader of the Treaty takes Burma out of Burma, called. 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