HC Deb 28 February 1949 vol 462 cc15-7
31. Mr. Donner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the war-time services of the Karens to the British Army in Burma, he will give an assurance that no military supplies or equipment have been or will be sold to the Government of Burma so long as civil war reigns in that country.

33. Mr. Keeling

ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the obligation in the Defence Agreement with Burma to give reasonable facilities for the purchase of war material extends to weapons to be used inside the country again the Karens; and when the three years, for which the agreement remains in force, will expire.

Mr. McNeil

His Majesty's Government signed a Defence Agreement with the Burmese Government, under which His Majesty's Government contract to afford the latter all reasonable facilities for the purchase of war material. We have no intention of denouncing this agreement unilaterally.

The Agreement runs in the first instance for three years from 4th January, 1948, and is thereafter subject to 12 months' notice on either side. No restrictions are placed on the use of the war material so obtained, nor would it be appropriate to attempt to impose restrictions as suggested by the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Donner), much as His Majesty's Government regret the recent outbreak of Karen-Burmese communal strife, and anxious as they, and all Governments friendly to the Burmese Government, are that this fighting should end.

Mr. Donner

Will this matter be discussed at the Delhi Conference? Is the position of the Government such that they can show no sort of gratitude at all for unswerving loyalty during Japanese invasion and occupation, often at great personal risk?

Mr. McNeil

The agenda and the business of the Delhi Conference are quite another subject. The gratitude of His Majesty's Government is well-known but does not allow them to escape from a contractual obligation.

Mr. Keeling

, Does the right hon. Gentleman think that the supplying of arms for communal strife is, in the language of the Defence Agreement. "reasonable"?

Mr. T. Reid

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the British Government do not take sides in this unfortunate civil war?

Mr. Driberg

Is it not also unfortunate that British subjects who should have known better have been instigating the Karen rebels and trying to run guns to them? Will my right hon. Friend repudiate the activities of those persons?

Mr. Lipson

In view of the obligation to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred, will not he advise the Burmese Government that they should consider giving self-government to the Karens?