§ 6. Captain FULLERasked the Secretary of State for India if, in view of the result of the recent election held in Burma on the separation issue, he will state the policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to the future of Burma?
§ 41. Mr. HANNONasked the Secretary of State for India if he can make a statement on the present position of Burma in relation to its future association or otherwise with an All-India federation?
§ Sir S. HOAREAt the close of the Burma Round Table Conference last year 605 my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister indicated that after a general election at which the broad issue of separation from India or inclusion in an Indian Federation had been placed before the electorate, the representatives of the people of Burma in the Legislative Council would be afforded the opportunity to choose between, on the one hand, Separation, in which case Burma would be given, subject to the approval of Parliament, a constitution such as he depicted, and, on the other hand, remaining a Province of India with the prospect of inclusion, like the other Provinces, in the projected Indian Federation. The election took place in November; and at the end of December the newly elected Council adopted without a division a resolution which rejected both the alternatives offered by His Majesty's Government. His Majesty's Government are unable to find in the resolution of the Burma Council any indication of a choice between the alternatives offered by His Majesty's Government, and are considering whether any steps are possible on their part towards the removal of this barrier to constitutional advance in Barma.
§ Captain FULLERWill my right hon. Friend say when an announcement is likely to be made regarding the constitution?
§ Sir S. HOARENo, I could not give anything in the nature of a definite date to-day.