§ 2.34 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT SWINTONMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government the Question of which I have given them private Notice—namely, whether they have any statement to make regarding the departure of the British Military Mission from Burma.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (VISCOUNT HALL)My Lords, the British Joint Services Mission went to Burma at the end of 1947. This was in accordance with the terms of the Military Agreement negotiated at the same time as the Treaty between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of the Union of Burma when Burma attained independence. The numbers of the Mission are fixed by an establishment agreed with the Government of Burma, and the general object of the Mission is to assist in organising and training the Burmese Armed Forces.
Unfortunately, the work of the Mission has been handicapped by the continuing disturbances in Burma. In particular, the fighting between forces of the Burmese Government and rebel bands in Upper Burma has led to the closing down of the Burmese Army Staff Training College at Maymyo, where part of the British Mission was stationed. In view of these developments and of the general conditions in that area, it was recently decided to withdraw the personnel of the British Mission and their families from Maymyo, and evacuation was planned to be completed by air to Rangoon by Sunday last. There has also been some concentration of the families of that part of the Mission which was stationed in the outlying parts of Rangoon.
In these circumstances, the work of the Mission is unavoidably restricted, and His Majesty's Government have suggested to the Burmese Government that officers and non-commissioned officers of the 302 Mission who, in consequence of the evacuation of Maymyo, cannot at present fulfil the functions for which they were posted to Burma, should be released for service elsewhere. I should like to emphasise that any temporary reduction in the strength of the Mission which may thus be effected in agreement with the Burmese Government, will in no way affect the establishment of the Mission as agreed will Burma in accordance with the Military Agreement of 1947. Any personnel who may be temporarily transferred to other duties elsewhere will be replaced when events make it possible and useful to restore the Mission to its full strength.
§ VISCOUNT SWINTONMy Lords, while thanking the First Lord for that statement, I would ask him whether he will confirm what I think has already been stated by His Majesty's Embassy in Burma——namely, that the allegations reported to have been made by Burmese Ministers and other persons in Burma, that the Military Mission abused their position, are entirely without foundation.
§ VISCOUNT HALLMy Lords, I can state categorically that there is no truth in the statement which appeared in the Press. The Foreign Office issued a statement yesterday, in which it was denied that any such happenings have taken place in Burma. It is to be regretted that statements should be made against a very valiant body of men.