HC Deb 17 February 1947 vol 433 cc126-8W

A conference having been held at Pang-long, attended by certain members of the Executive Council of the Governor of Burma, all Sachpas and representatives of the Shan States, the Kachin Hills, and the Chin Hills, the members of the conference, believing that freedom will be more speedily achieved by the Spans, the Kachins and the Chins by their immediate co-operation with the interim Burmese Government, have accordingly and without dissentients agreed as follows:—

  1. (I) A representative of the Hill peoples selected by the Governor on the recommendation of representatives of the Supreme Council of the United Hill peoples, shall be appointed a Counseller to be Governor to deal with the Frontier Areas.
  2. (II) The said Counsellor shall also be appointed a member of the Governor's Executive Council without portfolio and the subject of Frontier Areas brought within the purview of the Executive Council by constitutional convention as in the case of Defence and External Affairs. The Counsellor for Frontier Areas shall be given executive authority by similar means.
  3. (III) The said Counsellor shall be assisted by two Deputy Counsellors representing races of which he is not a member. While the two Deputy Counsellors should deal in the first instance with the affairs of their respective areas and the Counsellor with all remaining parts of the Frontier Areas they should by constitutional convention act on the principle of joint responsibility.
  4. (IV) While the Counsellor in his capacity of member of the Executive Council will be the only representative of the Frontier Areas on the Council, the Deputy Counsellor(s) shall be entitled to attend meetings of the Council when subjects pertaining to the Frontier Areas are discussed.
  5. (V) Though the Governor's Executive Council will he augmented as agreed above, it will not operate in respect of the Frontier Areas in any manner which would deprive any portion of these areas of the autonomy which it now enjoys in internal administration. Full autonomy in internal administration for the Frontier Areas is accepted in principle.
  6. (VI) Though the question of demarcating and establishing a separate Kachin State within a unified Burma is one which must he relegated for decision by the Constituent Assembly, it is agreed that such a State is desirable. As a first step towards this end, the Counsellor for Frontier Areas and the Deputy Counsellors shall he consulted in the administration of such areas in the Myitkyina and the Bhamo Districts as ate Part 2 Scheduled Areas under the Government of Burma Act of 1935.
  7. (VII) Citizens of the Frontier Areas shall enjoy the rights and privileges which are regarded as fundamental in democratic countries.
  8. (VIII) The arrangements accepted in this agreement are without prejudice to the 128 financial autonomy now vested in the Federated Shan States.
  9. (IX) The arrangements accepted in this agreement are without prejudice to the financial assistance which the Kachin Hills and the Chin Hills are entitled to receive from the revenues of Burma and the Executive Council will examine with the Frontier Areas Counsellor and Deputy Counsellor(s) the feasibility of adopting for the Kachin Hills and the Chin Hills financial arrangements similar to those between Burma and the Federated Shan States.

Mr. Rees-Williams

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Burma whether he will make a statement on the agreement reached at the Panglong Conference.

Mr. A. Henderson

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I am giving to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen).