Office of the Historian

845C.00/11–846: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in the United Kingdom (Gallman)

secret
night letter
Washington, November 8, 1946—3 p.m.

7614. Rangoon reports16 Aung San and Anti-Fascist League pressing hard for rapid progress towards self-govt and Brit may yield to extent they have already yielded in India.

Unless you perceive strong objections please have Emb officer seek opportunity informally elicit answers following questions from appropriate Brit authorities.

1.
What is Brit program for transition from Legislative Council elected April 2, 1947 to constituent assembly?
2.
Do Brit contemplate making pre-election statement informing Burmese electorate regarding this program?
3.
Between now and implementation new constitution will Brit Burma policy parallel Brit India policy in such matters as governor’s restraint of veto power, finance, defense and foreign affairs including exchange diplomatic representatives?

For your confidential info foregoing queries are prompted by following considerations:

1.
Burmese strategic position on projected American air routes, as buffer between India and China and as potential major rice exporter justify American interest in peaceful and orderly constitutional progress.
2.
Rangoon despatches indicate Communists are only political group other than AFL with sizeable mass support. Burmese opinion vigorously nationalist and extremely impatient with all delays in achieving self-government. Failure Burma to secure rapid constitutional progress and assurances further progress might cause large numbers non-communists to become discouraged and to join Communists in boycott April 2 elections.
3.
Brit assurances that Burma will receive treatment parallel to that India and that transition from legislature elected April 2 to constituent assembly will be rapid and in accordance Burmese desires might avert extremely unfortunate developments.

Acheson
  1. Telegram 409, November 4, 1946, repeated in telegram 7594, November 7, 3 p.m., to London, not printed; it reported the likelihood of an early announcement of an “interim or national government” in Burma, when the establishment of formal diplomatic relations with foreign governments would be raised (845C.00/11–446).↩