BURMA CONCERNED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27059, 19 April 1949, Page 5

BURMA CONCERNED

DEPENDENCE ON BRITISH COMMONWEALTH i ECONOMY AND DEFENCE NZPA—Copyright LONDON, Apl.. 17. The Burmese Prime Minister,' Thakin Nu, who \is at present visiting India, said in Karachi after a meeting with the Pakistan Prime Minister. Mr Liaquat Ali Khan: “Although we are not in the British Commonwealth, we cannot afford to keep aloof and independent of Commonwealth countries in economic and defence matters." Thakin Nu said he hoped Liaquat Ali Khan would place all the facts about Burma “ in their right perspective” before the British Cabinet during the Commonwealth Pripie Ministers’ conference. The London newspaper the Observer says the plain fact which sent Thakin Nu flying to India and Pakistan is to beg their support in London for a loan. The Burmese Government, says the paper, is faced with, imminent bankruptcy, while its troops make no headway against the numerous rebel factions. All informed opinion agrees that help from 'abroad would be useless unless the Burmese were ready to engage foreign advisers to ensure that the money was wisely spent. It is gravely feared ' that alternatively Burma will ultimately fall to the Communists.