Evening star., 1947-03-30

bound Burma today are restoring
up rehabilitation program that
nearly two years since the liberat
Burma has felt the thorough
British in 1912 destroyed everythln
The Japanese bled the country
economically during the occupa,
ton. British and American force.
made Burma major objective fol
aerial bombardment throughout the
war and paced the army of liberia
ton down the country in 1945.
Except for the strides made ir
agriculture, which provided about
so per cent of Burma's prewar ex-
ports and gave employment to two.
thirds Of its 100000 population
little has been accomplished in
the work Of rehabilitation in COM
parison to the task confronting the
country. .....~
Contributing Factors.
Reasons given for the snail's pace
in the recovery of Burma are many
lack Of materials, shortage oi
trained technicians, strikes which
have impeded the flow of essential
goods and disrupted the labor sup
ply and widespread lawlessness in
the upcountry districts.
Whatever the cause of Burma's
slow comeback may be, it is GER
tain that the country will have tc
depend heavily on foreign capital
to put its bank account in order
and to carry out its reconstruction
program.
Britain, hard pressed with its own
problems at home, has maintained
until recently a rigid control on
Burma's purse strings. There are
those who argue that this has been
one Of the biggest deterrents to re-
covery.
To provide the capital for start
ing reconstruction, the British gov
eminent granted so-called $348,-
100000 interest-free loan, provided
immediate repayments were started
from the country's revenues, which
since liberation have come mainly
from import duties and land taxes.
Indebted to Britain.
1t is estimated that under this
arrangement Burma incurred debt
of $4,000, 900 to Britain used mainly
in restoring government facilities
and for government operating ex-
penses. Under terms of the Lon
don agreement in January, Burma is
to receive further grants, the
amount of which are yet to be de-
termined.
During the Japanese occupation
the exile Burma government in
Simla, India, drew elaborate plans
for Burma's rehabilitation. The
plans, to a large degree, were made.
quate to meet the situation which
greeted the government on it's re.
turn. No comprehensive survey yet
has been made of the country's wal
losses. No government official know.
the extent Of the havoc wrought o.
Whatthe cost of rehabilitation will
be.
Informed sources say there must
be complete revision of the orig
inal blueprint which some believe
was designed mainly to restore tc
the British the strong grip they
held on Burma's business before the
war.
u. Tin Tut, minister without port
folio in the governors executive
council, said one of the main criti-
cisms of Burmans has been the
fact that some British firms have
been getting the lions share OF
financial aid through the govern
ment and are reaping the profits.
Bandits Stumbling Block.
The problem of Dacoits, bands OF
heavily armed bandits with modern
weapons obtained during the war
has been a serious menace to Bur-
mas recovery. They roam through
the country districts robbing and
looting and have been a big stun
bling block in restoring agriculture
and in the free movement of goods
into the interior.
The easy-going Burman is more
interested in politics now than ir
reconstruction. Politically spon.
sored strikes have been a big handi.
cap.
Some observers emphasize that
insufficient use was made of the
thousands Of Japanese soldiers left
in Burma after the war in helping
to repair the damage
Small businessmen were anxiou.
to get back to Burma, but the en-.
thusiasm wears off after they SET
conditions. Hundreds of evacuee.
to India. many Of whom partici.
pated in the great trek out ir
1912, have gone back to India dis
illusioned. Some say it will be