1941: Burma

Early in 1941 the government of Burma finally approved the building of a railway from Lashio, terminus of the Burma Road, to the Chinese frontier, where it will link up with a railway from Kunming. For several years China had pressed the need for this project, designed to supplement the inadequate facilities of the Burma Road. In Yunnan, the Chinese authorities have already completed a good deal of the eastern half of their section of the railway. Surveying work on the Burma link, which is approximately 110 miles long, was scheduled to begin in October. Construction costs, estimated at £2,000,000, are to be paid by the British Government, and Burma is given an option to acquire the line at a later date. The delays already encountered make it a question as to whether this strategic railway, now very greatly needed, will be completed in time to affect the course of the Pacific war.

A preliminary Indo-Burma trade agreement, signed on April 3, marked the end of the previous free trade between Burma and India and inaugurated a system of mutual preferences. The benefits of the lower preferential duties, which constitute the essence of the scheme, are respectively confined to goods of Indian and Burmese origin. Sir Reginald Dorman Smith, Governor-designate of Burma, arrived at Rangoon on May 7; the retiring Governor was Sir Archibald Cochrane. On June 18 notes signed by Chinese and British representatives at Chungking settled a controversy over delimitation of the Burma-Yunnan frontier which had originated in 1885 when Britain occupied Upper Burma. One note defined the frontier line between Burma and Yunnan, while the other marked out an area on the Burmese side of the new line in which Chinese may participate up to 49 per cent in mining enterprises undertaken by British concerns. The Burma Defense Council, which assists the British Governor in discharging his exclusive responsibility for defense, was reconstituted on Aug. 12. Four of the eight members of the Council are Burmese, while the Premier of Burma is vice-president and the Governor is president. On Sept. 3, after wide publicity had been directed toward the tolls levied by Burma on the supplies entering China via the Burma Road, the government of Burma abolished the transit dues.

Toward the end of the year, U Saw, Premier of Burma, visited London in an effort to obtain a promise of self-government for Burma. On Nov. 3 he issued a public statement in London declaring that the result of his talks with the British authorities was 'unsatisfactory.' Two days later Mr. L. S. Amery, Secretary of State for India and Burma, made an answering statement at a luncheon given in U Saw's honor. Welcoming the Burmese Premier's 'frankness,' Mr. Amery declared that in the 'discussions which we hope will be undertaken as soon as the war is concluded we mean to go as far as we can and as fast as we can on the road to Dominion status.' To such a status, he continued, we 'cannot lightly admit outside people without full consideration of the character of their Government or the responsibilities for defense which it might involve.' The issue was aired in the House of Commons on Nov. 16, when Mr. Maxton asked 'whether any immediate steps are to be taken to establish self-government in Burma.' To this Mr. Amery replied: 'Burma already enjoys self-government in her internal affairs. While it is not practicable during the war to carry through or even to discuss effectively the further development of her Constitution, His Majesty's Government were able to give assurances of the sincerity of their declared aim of promoting Burma's attainment of Dominion Status and of their intentions in regard to the scope of the discussions, which have been promised immediately after the war is won.' The importance of Burma in the Allied defense of Southeast Asia, and also in the protection of one of the main routes of access to China, was emphasized on Dec. 28, when it was announced that Lieutenant-General T. J. Hutton, Chief of Staff to General Archibald P. Wavell's Indian Command, was detached to be general officer commanding in Burma. See also BURMA ROAD.