The Future of Burma
That the conversations with Burmese delegates now taking place may result in the truncation of the British Empire is a fact that had better be faced since it cannot be ignored. The Prime Minister, indeed, seemed to be at pains to see that it was not ignored, for in his speech of welcome at the opening of the conference he em- phasised again, as he had in the House of Commons last month, the unwillingness of the Government to keep any people in the Empire against its own desires. It may be wise to speak thus frankly at the opening of the negotiations ; certainly it would be wise for the Burmese on their side to opt for remaining in the Empire on their own terms. It has been said of more than one adolescent people in the past that they w3uld demand independence so long as they were denied it. In this case they are not denied it ; they are publicly offered it. But while an adolescent, they are not yet a full- grown, people. They are living in a dangerous world and in a rather dangerous part of the world. If they are prudent they will look for support somewhere, and the natural place to seek it is where it is known to be readily forthcoming—at the hands of Great Britain. But on that the Burmese must make their cwn decision. Elections have been fixed for April, and the desire of the delegates now in London is to make them the basis for a Constituent Assembly which shall decide the country's status and constitution. Mr. Attlee has already indicated British acquiescence in that course. The most difficult question is the future of the border tribes, which gave staunch support to British arms during the war, and are not content to be subjected unconditionally to an independent Burmese Govern- ment. Here there is clearly a case for reciprocity. The Burmese should be ready to treat the tribes as Britain is prepared to treat Burma—with, of course, the necessary differences ; there can be no question of giving the tribes independence, but they can be granted a large measure of autonomy, and Mr. Aung San, the chief Burmese delegate, and leader of the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League, has assented to this. The omens are therefore not unhopeful.
