Britain Hands Over In Burma

Northern Advocate, 6 January 1948, Page 5

Britain Hands Over In Burma

RANGOON, Mon.—Thin, sing-song Burmese voices mingled with deeper British voices in singing “Auld Lang Syne,” to the accompaniment of the Royal Marines band, at the ceremony of relinquishing British sovereignty at 4.2 a.m. yesterday, says the Daily Mail’s correspondent in Rangoon. He adds that Buddhist astrologers had chosen that time as the most auspicious for the birth of the new Burma-

Following the ceremony of hoisting the Burmese flag President Sao Shwe Thaik and his party moved inside the Assembly Hall for the declaration of independence. There the Prime Minister (Thakin Nu) announced that Burma was a fully sovereign state, ready to join hands with all nations pledged to peace. The next part of the ceremony was at Government House. GOVERNOR LEAVES The British Governor (Sir Hubert Ranee) and Lady Ranee received the President in a brief ceremony, and then drove away. Government House will now be-

Government House will now become the President’s residence. Sir Hubert Ranee stood at attention on the bridge of the cruiser Birmingham as she moved slowly.down the Rangoon River, while guns fired in an exchange of salutes. The Burmese Ambassor-designate to London (Sir Maung Gyee) said the ties between Britain and Burma were strengthened, not weakened, by Britain’s voluntary relinquishment of her dominion over a dependency. Mr Attlee's message to Burma stated: “We are confident that the new Union of Burma will make due contribution to the happiness of Asia.”