SELF-GOVERNMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22612, 18 May 1945, Page 4

SELF-GOVERNMENT

FUTURE FOR BURMA PROCEDURE AFTER 1946 CHOICE OF CONSTITUTION (Official Wireless; (Received May 18, 12.15 p.m.) RUGBY, May 17 The intention of the British Government eventually to give full selfGovemment within the British Commonwealth to Burma proper is contained in a statement of British Government policy issued tonight. The statement says that the British Government considers that on account of difficulties created by the war it will not be possible to reestablish the Government as it existed in 1941. Parliament is asked to prolong therefore until December, 1946, the validity of the proclamation issued in 1942 under which the administration is carried on by the Governor, Sir Reginald Dorman Smith. It is hoped that by then if not before it will be possible to establish a condition in which a general election can be held and Government established under normal constitutional methods. It is added that when the duly appointed representatives here agreed on a type of constitution and it is clear that the proposed constitution has sufficient measure support in Burma to justify endorsement by Parliament, the British Government will enter into discussions with representatives of Burma with a view to satisfactory agreements being made to enable them to fulfil their continuing obligations and to safeguard any outstanding financial advances made by the British Government, so that when the necessary administrative organisation is in existence and other arrangements completed, full self Government within the British Commonwealth can thereupon be established in Burma proper.

The administration of scheduled areas, that is, the Shan States and tribal areas in the mountainous fringes, inhabited by peoples differing in language, social customs and degree of political development from the Bilrmans inhabiting the central areas, would for the time being be subject to a special regime under the Governor until their inhabitants signified a desire for some suitable amalgamation of their territories with Burma proper.