GRANT OF POWER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22320, 3 May 1947, Page 5

GRANT OF POWER

BURMA PROGRESS ASSEMBLY ELECTION NATIONALIST IMPATIENCE (10.15 a.m.) LONDON, May 2. A number of important and significant developments have taken place in Burma in the last few months, said the Under-Secretary of State for India. Mr. Arthur Henderson, in opening a debate in the House of Commons on .the situation in Burma. The full results of the Burmese elections, he said, were not yet available. Several groups had boycotted the elections, but it was doubtful whether any representative or substantial political feeling in the country had ignored them. The elections should make the Constituent Assembly broadly representative of Burma as a whole. Communists had succeeded in keeping many voters from the polls, but there were few disorderly incidents, . Rebuilding Shattered Economy Definite progress had been made in rebuilding the country’s shattered economy, but there was still an immense amount to be done. It is authoritatively stated that Britain and Burma have reached complete agreement in financial talks held in the past fortnight, says Reuter’s correspondent in Rangoon, The British delegation has left for London. It is expected that the terms of the agreement “will be announced next week. It is understood that the agreement will concede financial autonomy to Burma, and cover both the internal and external aspects of Burma’s finances. The British mission agreed to consider further financial assistance in addition to the recent interest-free loans which were made to cover the Burmese Eudget deficit for 1946-47. Sponsored by Britain It is also understood that Britain has agreed to sponsor Burma as a member of the International Monetary Fund and International Bank. Another Rangoon message states that Mr._ Thakin Ba Sein, leader of the Nationalist Dobama Party, who resigned from the Executive Council to raise a revolutionary army numbering 100,000 "to fight British Imperialism and its hirelings.” claims that volunteers are joining in large numbers. He said plans were in hand for the opening of training camps.