§ Mr. Dribergasked the Under-Secretary of State for Burma if he will make a statement on the withdrawal from the Governor's Executive Council of the three Myochit Party members, U Ba On, U Aye and U Lun.
§ Mr. A. HendersonI understand that two of the three Myochit members of the Governor's Executive Council, U Ba On and U Aye, have, on instructions from Myochit Party headquarters, tendered their resignations, which have been accepted by the Governor. U Lun has not, so far as I am aware, resigned. Their resignations are, I understand, consequent on a Myochit Party instruction that, failing the immediate grant to the Governor's Executive Council of the ministerial powers and privileges contained in the Government of Burma Act, Myochit support should be withdrawn. An essential preliminary to the re- 377W establishment of a ministry with ministerial powers under the Act is, of course, the holding of democratic elections and if all goes well it is hoped that a Legislature will have been elected and a Ministry formed before June of next year.