POLICY OF BURMA

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 239, 4 July 1940, Page 10

POLICY OF BURMA

All Aid For Britain QUESTION OF FUTURE STATUS

(British Official Wireless.) (Received July 3, 7.5 p.m.)

RUGBY, July 2.

On June 22 the Governor of Burma received from the Premier the following statement of the Burma Government’s policy toward the war: — “At this critical juncture in the history of the world and of tne war of freedom and democracy against brute force, the policy of the Government of Burma is to give the utmost help in the common task of making the forces of freedom and democracy triumphant in the present conflict.

“The Government of Burma is a representative Government and cannot take adequate action in pursuance of the above policy without the approval and co-operation of the people of Burma whom it represents. Nor can any action it. takes be fully effective unless it is placed in respect of defence and external affairs in the same position as fully self-governing members of the Commonwealth. “While therefore the policy outlined above is unconditional, the Government of Burma would strongly urge upon His Majesty’s Government the necessity of satisfying the aspirations of the people of Burma by making a declaration forthwith to the effect that, on the termination of the present war, His Majesty’s Government will grant Burma a constitution which will enable her to take at once her due place as a fully self-governing and equal member of any commonwealth or federation of free nations that may be established as the result of the war.”

This statement was communicated by the Governor to the Secretary for Burma, who, with the approval of His Majesty’s Government, has sent the following reply:—

“Please express to your Ministers His Majesty's Government’s deep appreciation of their unconditional offer, as the representatives of the people of Burma, to give their utmost help in the common task of prosecuting the war against the forces of evil and securing tlie triumph of freedom and democracy.

“As evidence of His Majesty’s Government’s appreciation and in order to secure tlie closest co-operation possible between the people of Burma and the Governor in discharging the functions entrusted to him by section seven of tlie Burma Act, particularly in (he all important sphere of defence, His Majesty’s Government approves your suggestion that you should forthwith invite a representative of Burma to serve as one of your counsellors to assist you in tlie exercise of those functions.

“As regards tlie question of tlie future constitutional development, the policy and intentions of His Majesty's Government have been clearly declared in statements which you delivered to your Ministers on November 7 and 24 that it will continue to use its best endeavours to promote the attainment of Dominion status as being the objective of Burma’s constitutional progress.

“At this moment it is clearly impossible to predict* what will be the world situation at the end of the war, what aspects, requirements of Burma’s defences and external affairs and problems will assume in that situation and to what extent Burma will herself lie in a position to cope with those requirements. It is only in the light of the circumstances that may actually obtain at the time that these questions can usually be considered and discussed, but when the war is brought to a victorious end His Majesty’s Government will be very willing to enter on the discussion of them.” The section of the Burma Act referred to above deals jvith functions reserved to the discretion of the Governor. EIRE’S POSITION Possible Weak Point In British Defence LONDON, July 2.

The question of Ireland’s place in the coming battle is being discussed in the Press. “The Times” says: “Ireland, as in the days of Queen Elizabeth, provides a possible springboard for an assault on Britain.”

The “Yorkshire Post” says that German troop-carrying planes from Brittany could reach Eire after flying only 400 miles, without crossing British territory. Within a single day or night Germany could land light mechanized forces for which the armed resistance of Eire would be no match.

The whole Irish situation, the “Post” continues, is tragically similar to that which prevailed, first in Scandinavia and then in the Low Countries, before Hitler struck. No doubt the German Minister in Dublin is warning the Prime Minister of Eire, Mr. de Valera, against action which might provoke Berlin. Similar warnings were given to other small countries now under Nazi rule.

The paper adds: “If Mr. de Valera wants Eire to remain a land for free men he will show be is ready to meet Lord Craigavon more than halfway in mutual defence.”

TORN DOWN BY NAZIS Monument To French General LONDON, July 2. The German news agency states that Germans tore down the monument to General Mangin in Paris. General Mangin commanded the Army of Occupation in the Ruhr.

General Charles Emmanuel Mangin was born in Sarreobourg in ISG6, and after graduating at the Military School of St?Cyr he spent 26 years in different parts of Africa, three years in Tongking, and only ten months in France before the World War. He commanded the sth Infantry Division which threw the Germans back on Douauinont in May, 1916, anti three months later hurled two divisions against the place and captured it as well as Vans. In 1917 he commanded the sth Army, and in the last year of the war was in command of the forces which checked the German offensive in Compiegne. For a year be commanded the Army of Occupation in the Rhineland, but his life work was to develop Ins country s African resources. He died in 1925 and was buried in Montparnasse Cemetery under a headstone saying: “Hero lies ; .1 French soldier.”