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Commonwealth Foreign Ministers in January, 1950, and it was announced on 24 March that the Governments of the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Australia, and Ceylon had agreed to make a joint offer of a two-year loan of £6,000,000 to the Burmese Government. Although New Zealand did not participate in the proposed loan, the New Zealand Government has followed, these developments in Burma with close attention and has expressed its readiness to extend any assistance possible in conjunction with other Commonwealth countries. 9. India, Pakistan, and Ceylon The situation arising from the formation of the Republic of India on 26 January, 1950, is discussed in more detail in another section of the report. New Zealand took part in the Conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers in April, 1949, as well as in subsequent Commonwealth discussions of the future relations between India and the Commonwealth, and following the Indian declaration accompanying the Proclamation of the Republic that India would continue to recognize the Crown as the head of the Commonwealth, the Indian Government has maintained its former close and cordial relations with New Zealand and with other Commonwealth countries. During the year a considerable exchange of information and comment took place with the Government of Ceylon, particularly in connection with the organization and personnel of the newly reorganized administrative services of Ceylon, and a spirit of friendly co-operation marked the relations of the two smallest Commonwealth countries. New Zealand has taken an active interest in assisting Ceylon through the provision of experts in administrative and technical fields, although the extent of that help is necessarily limited by her slender resources, and several schemes for assistance are under consideration at the present time, among them the possible training in New Zealand of dental nurses from Ceylon. New Zealand has followed with concern developments in IndoPakistan relations. Although the period closed on a hopeful note, with negotiations proceeding satisfactorily towards an agreement for the protection of minorities and the settlement of refugee problems, many issues remain outstanding between the two countries. Pakistan's decision not to follow the action of India in devaluing the rupee in line with the sterling devaluation of September, 1949, has caused an almost complete stoppage of trade between the two countries, and the resulting partial dislocation of economies that are largely complementary has been increased by travel restrictions and other retaliatory measures. Renewed disturbances in East and West