INDIA AND BURMA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 18 February 1935, Page 5

INDIA AND BURMA

IN THE EVENT OF SEPARATION JUST FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT A TRIBUNAL TO ADVISE (Uuited Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, 15th February. The Secretary for India, (the Rt. Hon. Sir .Samuel Hoare) appointed Mr L. G. M. S. Amcry, Sir Sidney Rowlatt, and Sir Walter Nicholson to constitute a tribunal to advise him on the formulation of a just financial settlement between India and Burma in the event of separation. The tribunal is now engaged upon the investigation committed to them, assisted by technical advisers. The Joint Select Committee on Indian Constitutional Reform, which reported in November last, recommended the separation of Burma from India, The Burmese have been working consistently for separation over a long period of years. •In 1932 Mr Ramsay MacDonald assured them that the British Government was' prepared to grant a constitution, but with wide powers as to the conduct of finance, defence and external affairs reserved to the British Crown and administered by the Governor. Under his plan, the constitution was to provide for a Lower House directly elected, an Upper House partly elected and partly nominated by the Governor, and a Ministry of six or eight members appointed by the Governor and collectively responsible to the Legislature. At tile general election in November, 1932, the Anti-Separation-ists won 39 seats in the Provincial Legislature and the Separationists 29, and neutrals 9; so final decision was postponed. Burma is bounded by Tibet on the north, by China, French Indo-China, and Siam on the east, and by Assam, Bengal, and the sea on the west. It is the largest province, having a total area, of 233,492 squr.ro miles, about equal to Spain and Portugal, with a population of 14,667,146. These figures include the Shan States and Chin Hills. The province is thinly peopled, but, owing to leinarkable prosperity the population has increased 11 per cent, in 10 years. The inhabitants belong to numerous tribes, who are distinguished by a variety of maimers, languages and religions. Burmese and Shangale are the chief languages. Buddhism, now almost confined to Burma, so far as the Indian Empire is concerned, is the religion of 85 per cent, of the people? The Burmese are much better educated than the natives of India proper, education being conducted by Buddhist monks. The delta, country of Lower Burma is flat, but above Prome there is upland hilly country. Rice, file main product of iiie delta region is largely milled at Rangoon and exported. The principal export after rice is teak, which comes from the extensive forests of Burma and the Shan States, and overland from Siam. The Irrawaddy and its chief tributaries form important waterways. The main stream is navigable beyond Bliaino, 900 miles from its mouth, and carries much traffic. There are considerable exports by land to Western China.

INDIA BILL GOVERNORIGENERAL’S' POWERS RUGBY, 10th February. Instructions to the Governor-General and provincial Governors provided for in the Government of India Bill are set out in White Paper drafts. They are based in the main on the recommendation of the Joint Select Committee, and also contain some passages and phrases included in existing instructions. The latter include final instructions to the Governor-General under which the Governor-General “should so exercise the trust reposed in him that the partnership between India and the United Kingdom within our Empire may be furthered to the end that India may attain its due place among our dominions.” The section which deals with the executive authority of the Federation provides that the Governor-General shall do all that in him lies to maintain standards of good administration, to encourage religious toleration, cooperation and goodwill among all classes and creeds, and to promote all measures making for moral, social and economic welfare. The Governor-General’s powers are outlined regarding his selection of Ministers,’ and his discretion in following their advice.