Evening star., 1949-07-31
Independent
Nations List
Now Longer.
Six Hundred Million
Win Freedom Since
War Ended
By Sierid Arne

by Si9Ilo NIhe
The pink checked Icelandic
fisherman, the slant-eyed worker
In the rice paddles Of Burma. the
bushy-haired Ethiopian herdsman
they and some 600. 900. 900 other
men and women In 16 nations
have celebrated a Fourth of July"
since World War II.
While 100,000,000 Europeans
lost their political freedom behind
the Iron curtain. six times as
many have won the right to COM
pletely or partially run their own
governments.
The largest chunks of humanity
to shake foreign rule were in
British India-450. 900 ,000-and
Britain, of all the centers Of
empire, has freed more of her
subjects to 60 1t on their own than
any other.
Most of the old British subjects
have chosen to remain under the
common roof Of the British COM
monwealth, on equal voting terms
as Canada is.
Most of the areas which have
gained various degrees of political
freedom have adopted British and
American ideas.
Most have set up two-house
parliaments. Most provide for
presidents with terms Of four to
six years. Some limit their
presidents to two terms. Some
have prime ministers as well
as presidents.
These are the new political
persons" who have joined the
family Of nations:
Syria and Lebanon
These small Arab states were
Clipped OF the old Turkish
empire after World War I. From
1920 to 1941 they were French
protectorates. At the start of
World War II-when the Allies
needed a friendly Arab world
the French military commander
in the area signed an inde-
pendence treaty.
Ethiopia
Early in World War II Ethiopia
was taken by Italy. The British
soon liberated the nation. with
provision for British use of Eth
opian railroads. On May Is. 1914
the Ethiopians took back full con-
troll of their nation and set up a
two-house Parliament.
Iceland
This little land of 1874 900 people
celebrated the 1.000th anniversary
of its Parliament. But from 1914
to 1914 Iceland lived under Danish
rule. On June II. 1914. it pro-
claimed itself a republic.
Indo-C China
The shift here has been, and Is
painful. On March 6. 1916. the
old ruler. France, recognized the
republic of Wet Nam. to be formed
from the five old divisions of
Indo- China.
But war with Communists still
blurs the new republics fate. and
something like 100000 French
troops remain.
This month the Wet Namese
formed a government. the leaders
announcing their intention of
staying inside the French union.
Here. as in a few other areas.
there is no clear-cut understand
ing in Washington OF the exact
political privileges granted the in
dividual citizen.
The Philippines
The United States ruled these
islands from 1898 up to July 4,
1916, when they became an inde-
pendent republic. The new gov
ernment has given the United
States a 99-year lease on military
bases, and the United States voted
them war-damage relief.
India and Pakistan
After more than two centuries
Of British rule, India gained inde-
pendence on August Is, 1947.
breaking up into two nations, In
dia and Pakistan. Both chose to
stay inside the British common
wealth.
Burma
This British colony became in
dependent January 4, 1948. in a
treaty with the British. 1t chose
to leave the British common
wealth and "absolved" the British
of any further protection Of the
Burmese, who have been domi-
mated by the British since 1912.
The Malayan Federation
This is a union Of nine states.
ruled by the British since the last
century. In 1909 the British
granted Malayans the right to
run their home affairs. On Feb
ruary /, 1948, the Malays set up
an independent government with
q provision that they will work
with the advice Of q British ex-
pert.
Ceylon
Under either British domina-
ton or rule since the 18th
century, this rich. island became
a dominion on February 4. 194S.
It can run It's home and foreign
affairs as it wishes, but its lead
ers have announced they will con-
duct foreign affairs in line with
the British, rs do such other do
Lminions as Australia and Canada.
Korea
The history of this proud people
goes back to the 18th century be-
fore Christ. They were annexed
In 1o1n nv the .Japanese and re.