Evening star., 1939-06-18
Burmese Demand
For Freedom From
Britain Growing
English Position Would
Be Difficult in Case
Of japanese War
BY A. T. STEELE,

oy IA l.
Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent.
RANGOON, Burma. June 17.-If
ever the British Empire cracks. as
Fascist prophets are fond of pre-
dieting that it must, one of the
likely points of fissure is this little
tropical dependency off the Bay of
Bengal.
The people of Burma-that is, the
articulate onesAhave discovered
that they don't like British rule.
They want independence and they
don't care much how they get it.
Many of them, despite the lessons
of Korea and ManchWia, are even
turning an attentive ear to the
Establishments of Japan.
In case of war involving Great
Britain and Japan, the British posi-
ton in Burma might become diff
ficult indeed
Nationalism is young in Burma,
but 1t is Towering rapidly in the
soil Of economic discomfort. The
British have attempted to hold it
within bounds by making increasing
concessions to Burmese demands for
self-rule. But every new conces-
sion has led to bigger and more far
reaching demands.
War Opened Burmese Eyes.
Until the end of the Great War,
Burma and its 14,5O00OO people
were treated as a backward ap-
pendage of India, and nobody in
Burma seemed to mind But the
war to make the world safe for
democracy" opened many Burmese
eyes to new political vistas. Why,
they asked themselves shouldn't the
Burmese people be granted the
same right of self-rule as the mi
norities of Europe? Burmans be-
gan to take an interest in politics
for the first time. Organizations
were formed to demand from Eng
land reforms equally as liberal as
those granted India
By 1923, Burma had won limited
legislative powers but was still
hooked to India. Faster and faster
grew Burmas S political consciousness
and harder and harder Burmese
politicians pressed for greater lib
erty of government, 1t was not
until April /. 1887. however, that
Burma won her divorce from India
and became an individual entity of
the British Empire. under a con-
stitution called the Government of
Burma Act.
And now Burma has a bicameral
legislature. largely composed of
Burmese politicians elected by the
100000 Burmese taxpayers who
have the right to vote. Yet real
self-rule is still out of reach, for the
governor Of Burma, an Englishman
appointed by the King, has the
power of veto over the acts of the
Legislature. Nor do the Burmans
have any voice in such vital ma
tional affairs as defense and foreign
relations which are also the prerog-
atives of the Kings servant, the
governor. These special powers vex
the Burmans no end.
Resent Indian Immigration.
4llCl dlC Ol1lCI IilC oOl
mans don't like about British rule.
They resent the British failure to do
something about Indian immigra-
ton. which is croWding them out of
their own cities. They are becoming
increasingly agitated over British
imperialism-the draining OF Bur-
mas natural riches by big British
vr-toi1n
pie welter in economic despair. The
exploitation of the oil ana the teak
and the mineral resources Of Burma
is the practical monopoly Of British
big business.
The British answer to all this is
that the Burmese people are inher-
emily incapable of assuming the re-
sponsibilities they demand. British
officials give the Burmese credit for
being an alert and intensely ma
tionalistic people, with a fair for
things mechanical. But they charge
them with improvidence, laziness
and lack of business sense. 1t is
the fashion among Europeans in
Rangoon to look down smugly upon
the Burmese people as race Of
noisy, irresponsible children who will
never get far by their own efforts
Political parties in Burma are one
man shows which rise or fall with
the fortunes of the politicians who
lead them. In the rambling red
brick Offices of the government Sec
retariat here I met U Pu, Burma's S
newly elected, mild hammered pre-
mier, Compromise selection of a
coalition of politicians, U Pu is
classed as moderate. Yet like all
other politicians I have interviewed
he was dissatisfied with the two
year-old Burmese constitution. He
told me his goal is dominion status
for Burma. His was the mildest
view l have encountered
From U Pu's Office 1 walked to
the headquarters of the Thakins.
most radical and most anti-British
of all Burmese political organiza-
tions. The Thakins will bear watch
Ing, for they are certain to figure
prominently in future events in
Burma
(Copyright. 1889. by Chicago Daily News,
1nc.)