INDIAN REFORM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22545, 12 April 1935, Page 10

INDIAN REFORM

SEPARATION OF BURMA PROTECTION OF TRADE INTERESTS (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, April 10. (Received April 11, at 5.5 p.m.) When consideration of the transitional provisions of the Government of India Bill was completed to-day 297 clauses had been dealt with.

The next part of the Bill, part 14, deals with Burma, and, in accordance with a promise given earlier 'with the general assent of the committee, there was a debate on the question of the separation of Burma. A motion for the omission of part 14 on the ground that the same progress towards self-government had not been made in Burma as in India was resisted by the Secretary of State for India (Sir Samuel Hoare), who said that the Statutory Commission came very definitely to the view that the great weight of opinion in Burma was in favour of separation. The result of the Round Table Conference confirmed that view as did the Joint Select Committee. His inquiries convinced him that a strong feeling in Burma still favoured 'separation. The Government, however, insisted that every possible step should be taken to avoid the sudden dislocation of economic bonds that had grown up between India and Burma. Accordingly the Joint Select Committee recommended that there should be an interim period before the new Government became established, and, as the result of discussions between the two Governments, the view was reached that the status quo for five years should be maintained, during which the trade relations between India and Burma would continue as at present. He invited the views of members as to the length of the interim period. He though): it would be wise in the interim period to leave the Governments to make the best arrangements they could for Burma and India provided British trade did not suffer from the position. When the interim period came to an end the British Government would be free to make whatever arrangements it could with the Government of Burma, where there ought to be wider opportunities for British trade.