BURMESE RIGHTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21850, 22 October 1945, Page 4

BURMESE RIGHTS

DECIDE OWN FUTURE

SELF-GOVERNMENT OFFER

APPEAL BY GOVERNOR RANGOON, Oct. 19. All of us hope that Burma will decide of its own free will to remain within the British commonwealth, but if she finds that to do so does not satisfy her political ambitions, she will have as much right to secede from this great brotherhood cf nations as Britain,” said the Governor, Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, broadcasting, after reading a letter from the Prime Minister, Mr. C. R. Attlee, promising that Burma would obtain self-govern-ment ns a member of the British Commonwealth at the earliest moment.

Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith pointed out that once Burma achieved full self-government her fate would be in her own hands. She would hnve_ the same degree of freedom’ as Britain herself enjoyed. Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith appealed to the Burmese politicians to forget party politics for the time being and get down to the solution of urgent problems. He promised that an election would be held as soon as the necessary machinery was established and until the elections he, as governor, would bo in charge of the administration assisted by the Executive Council. Acceptance of office on the Executive Council need not imply agreement with the British programme for Burma, as laid down by Parliament. The Burmese leaders would be able to do far more good for their country working inside the council than they could possibly do remaining outside.