Burma Independence Act 1947

Burma Independence Act 1947
	Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to provide for the independence of Burma as a country not within His Majesty's dominions and not entitled to His Majesty's protection, and for consequential and connected matters.
Government of Burma Act 1935 Government of Burma (Temporary Provisions) Act 1945;
Repealed by	Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1989
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Burma Independence Act 1947 (

Union of Burma

came into being on 4 January 1948 as an independent republic outside the Commonwealth.

Provisions

The Act's most important provisions were:

that Burma would become an independent country on 4 January 1948.
that the suzerainty of the British King over the part of Burma at the time known as the Karenni States would end on 4 January 1948.
that, generally, British subjects whose status as British subjects was due to a connection to Burma, would cease to be regarded as British subjects on 4 January 1948.

Parliamentary debate

Prime Minister Clement Attlee introduced the Bill in Parliament for its second reading.

British Dominion and instead would leave the Commonwealth.^[2] He explained that the United Kingdom government had a duty to see to it that "minorities for whom we had a special responsibility were given due position under the new Constitution” and reported that he was satisfied that that was the case.^[3]

The Prime Minister also provided Parliament with an overview of the historic relationship between the United Kingdom and Burma. He reported that the earliest connections with Burma derive from the activities of the East India Company, that Burma at that time was a kingdom, and that the whole country was annexed by the United Kingdom in 1886. Effective British rule over the whole of Burma has lasted just over 60 years.^[4]

He reported too that in May 1945, a statement of United Kingdom government policy concerning Burma was issued. It envisaged the drawing up of a constitution by representatives of the Burmese people with a view to full self-government. The formation of a Burmese government under

Government of Burma Act 1935. He concluded his remarks by remarking that he believed the future of Burma "should be bright".^[5]

The

British Dominion status was an indispensable stage in any policy which ought to have been pursued. He deplored that the legislation would "cut Burma out of the Empire altogether, and ... make her a foreign Power". Churchill said "the British Empire seems to be running off almost as fast as the American Loan". He deplored the "extraordinary haste". Churchill criticised the character of Burmese leaders calling Aung San a "traitor rebel leader" for having gone over to the Japanese during the recent war. He criticized U Saw, who had been interned during the war, in similar terms. He dryly criticised the government for putting the future of Burma in the hands of such "outstanding authorities". Churchill also said there were "grave doubts that the assent of the frontier tribes has been honestly and genuinely given" to the new constitutional arrangements.^[6]

The Bill which would become the Act was approved on 5 November 1947 by a vote of 288 in favour with 114 against.

Notes

^ HC Deb 5 November 1947 vol 443 cc1836-9611836
^ HC Deb 5 November 1947 vol 443 cc1836-9611836
^ HC Deb 5 November 1947 vol 443 cc1836-9611836
^ HC Deb 5 November 1947 vol 443 cc1836-9611836
^ HC Deb 5 November 1947 vol 443 cc1836-9611836
^ HC Deb 5 November 1947 vol 443 cc1836-9611836

§

Burma independence documents from the Burma Library

[1] HC Deb 5 November 1947 vol 443 cc1836-9611836

[2] HC Deb 5 November 1947 vol 443 cc1836-9611836

[3] HC Deb 5 November 1947 vol 443 cc1836-9611836

[4] HC Deb 5 November 1947 vol 443 cc1836-9611836

[5] HC Deb 5 November 1947 vol 443 cc1836-9611836

[6] HC Deb 5 November 1947 vol 443 cc1836-9611836

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

Provisions

Parliamentary debate

See also

Notes