1939: Burma

The British Crown Colony of Burma, formerly a part of British India, but separated from that country under the Government of India Act of 1935, was during 1939 torn by racial and religious quarrels, and by labor disputes.

Burma's affairs are administered by a Governor, appointed by the British Crown. He is assisted by a Council of ten Ministers, appointed by him, while legislative powers are in the hands of a Senate consisting of 36 members, some of whom are chosen by the Governor, and a House of Representatives of 132 members elected by popular vote. Under the Government of India Act, which became effective on April 1, 1937, the laws in force in India on that date were to remain in force in Burma until the new Government enacted laws of its own.

Of late years, owing to the rapid growth of nationalism in Burma, frequent riots have occurred between the Burmese Buddhist nationalists and Indian Moslems, and also between Hindus and Indian Moslems, who form a large part of Burma's population. It was because of criticism of the Government's failure adequately to curb such disturbances, that on Feb. 21 several Ministers, resigned from the Cabinet — the first one Burma had ever had. Serious disturbances among Hindus and Moslems, in which the Burmese had no part, also occurred in early March, resulting in several deaths and the wounding of hundreds of people. In Rangoon, during this month, there were continuous labor disturbances, instigated largely by Japanese agents bent on stopping traffic on the new Burma road connecting with China, and on halting work on various projects undertaken by the British and Burmese Governments to facilitate the movement of supplies entering Rangoon and destined for China's armies. During the labor riots in March, the Rangoon police fired into a mob that refused to disperse and several people were killed and a number wounded. An order was then issued by the authorities forbidding the assembling of five or more persons, and many laborers, fearing violence at the hands of inspired provocateurs, ate and slept in the shops where they were employed. The religious and racial outbreaks, as well as labor disturbances, continued throughout the entire year.

When Great Britain declared war against Germany in September India's demand for independence was echoed in Burma. When eight of the eleven Congress Party Cabinets in India resigned over the refusal of the British Government to set a definite date for the granting of Dominion status for India, the leader of Burma's largest political (Nationalist) Party, Mr. U Saw, and the Home Minister, Mr. U Ba Pe, requested the Governor, Sir Archibald Cochrane, to make a definite statement regarding Burma's future status. Sir Archibald's statement that his Government would continue 'to use its best endeavors' to promote the attainment by Burma of her 'due place' in the British Commonwealth of Nations, was declared by these two leaders to be unsatisfactory. Later, after further conference with Burmese leaders, the Governor issued a statement to the effect that Great Britain recognized that the attainment of Dominion status would be the natural goal for Burma, and said that this would come as a result of the constitutional progress that Burma herself made.

Closer cooperation between Burma and China in the matter of further transportation facilities in Burma for the Chinese Government was foreshadowed in December, when Burma's Defense Secretary and her Director General of Posts and Telegraphs visited Chungking and conferred with Chinese Government officials. For new road to China, see also CHINA: Major Arteries of Transportation.