SEPARATION FROM INDIA

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1930, Page 7

SEPARATION FROM INDIA

BURMAN VIEWS OUTLINED SPECIAL COMMITTEE-SET UP INDIAN CONFERENCE PLANS NATIONAL STATUS SOUGHT 'British Wireless. Rugby, Dec. 1. The Indian Conference to-day decided that a special committee should be set up to consider the nature of the conditions which would enable Burma to be separated from India on equitable terms and to recommend the best way for securing this end. This important decision was reached after the Burman viewpoint had been placed before the conference by U. Ba 'Pe, a Burman extremist.

U. Ba Pe said the wishes of the people of Burma were that their country be separated from India. They felt that as a part of'lndia their national status was liable to disappear. They desired the fullest measure of self-government on an equal footing with the other self-governing Dominions and under the same Crown. On the whole the people favoured a delay so that provision could be made for the minorities’ safeguards, either in the constitution itself or in the instructions to the Governor—whichever may be found best to meet the case—and to make reasonable financial adjustments as between India and Burma and to have a trade convention between the two countries. He considered Burma should have a constitution, if it was --possible, at the same time as India, and -he thought it would be best to have anothei* conference in London,-to which would be invited representatives of the various parties and interests in -Burma, I's to 20 in all, who would sit as the present conference sat with representatives of the British Government.

During the discussion Mr. C. Y. Chintamani, a British Indian delegate, expressed the view that the will of the people of Burma should be the determining factor, but he did not think there was a unanimous desire'for separation from India. The position of Indians in Burma would require careful consideration.

Lord Reading said there seemed a consensus of opinion favouring the separation of Burg a from India. There were many questions, such as finance, defence and minorities, which could be settled only "by a special body set up for that purpose. The Maharajah of Alwar expressed full sympathy with ’Burma’s request for separation. Lord Peel said that when he was recently in Burma he found a strong and -widespread desire for separation from the Indian Empire. Mr. Ramsay Mad Donald as chairman interpreted tiro desire of the conference as for a committee which should not attempt to draft a constitution for a new, Burma, but should take a note of certain conditions which had to be met in the process of separation. It should further recommend how the process could be best carried out, whether by a committee, a commission or anything else. He then proposed the terms of reference, in which there was general assent of the conference.