• [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIII,—May I suggest that the article on Burma in your issue of June 20th has a generous share of the ignorance of that country with which it charges the rest of Great Britain ? No one who knows Burma can think for a moment that she has any legitimate claims to • Dominion status. The similar demands in India are at least based on the comparatively long- experience and proved success of many -Indians in matters political and commercial.- - - But what title has the Burman to direct his own affairs ? To what success in any sphere can he point ? In agriculture, by supine devotion to custom, he has brought about the practical cessation of his country's one time share in world markets ; in business and commerce he has been content to allow the European; the Chinaman, and the Indian to assume almost complete control ; hi the realm of politics the speeches -and tactics of his representatives in the Legis- lative Connell have been pathetic to a degree and pitifully childish ; in the conduct of municipal affairs, which has been allowed him as an education up to higher things, his performance can be gauged by an inspection of the filthy condition of any of the larger towns or by a study of the proceedings which ended, not before it was time, in the recent supersession of the Mandalay Municipality.
The truth of the matter is that the Burman has not yet grown up either 'mentally or morally. Full credit must be Allowed him for the real progress whieh he has made in the short- time since- the annexation, but it cannot be seriously maintained that his development is mature 'enough to justify any material extension of his present limited share in the control of the country.
As for the -rebellion 'now in progress, it is probably quite erroneous to assert that it is the result, as your article suggests, of the Continual flouting by the Governments of Burma and
at home . of the united and legitimate demands of the whole country.
This rebellion is economic in its origin, an outcome of Burma's share in, and inability to realize the cause of, the present world-wide depression in prices. As ever, economic distress has been followed by political unrest. ' Certain adventurers have been swift to turn the slump to their own ends- by the dissemination of palpably false propaganda regarding its origin, a task in which they have received every help, and Government every hindrance, from the Burman members of the Council. That the rebellion has reached its serious proportions is evidence, not of Burma's united hostility against Great Britain, but of the inability of the Burma Government to take the long view and realize its duty to the country.
In addition to the great discredit of having been taken entirely by surprise by this organized rebellion, the Burma Government must now bear the further charge of having encouraged the movement by the misplaced clemency extended to their first captures, their delay of several months in bringing prisoners to trial, and -their repeated offers of amnesty. Nor have such events as the allowing of some fortr. prisoners to escape from gaol with a large number of police carbines helped to inspire confidence. But is the fact that the forces of disorder in Burma have, for the time being, been allowed to gain the upper hand, any reason for Great Britain to suffer itself to be jockeyed into effecting a permanent change in the administration of the country ?
As I see it, the first task of the Burma Government is to restore law and order now, by every means in its power and at whatever cost. When that has been done, and not until, it will be time enough to discuss the future constitution of Burma. It may well prove that separation from India, and the consequent retention by Burma of her own revenues, for her own ends, will be the best policy.
Certainly, as an inhabitant of one of the potentially wealthiest countries in the world, the Burman has a right to prosper. But it is equally certain that, at his present stage of development, he will not establish his right under his own guidance ; and it may be that some such form of adminis- tration as that Crown Colony Government, which would appear from your article to be so abhorrent to her, is the best means of ensuring that Burma will survive at this critical time, when she herself has been demoralized with earthquakes, riots and rebellions, and when other countries, far better equipped in wisdom and resource than she is, have found it difficult to keep their heads above water.
Finally, if Burma is to succeed not only in weathering the present world depression, but in obtaining her due share in the coming revival, signs of which are now not wanting; most certain of all is it that she will be well advised to abandon this "legitimate claim to direct her own affairs," and to utilize gratefully and to the full the help of British experience and British brains.—I am, Sir, &c., A. H. GionsoN. Ilindhead.
[We never suggested that Burma should dispense with British aid. Just as British capital, British initiative, British enterprise and British brains have played a large part in deve- loping the Dominions, so will they find an outlet in a self- governing Burma.—En. Spectator.]
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