The Burma Round Table Conference was held in London 1931-32 to consider the future of Burma. The decision was taken that Burma should no longer be administered as a province of India but should be governed directly from London. The photograph shows the final session of the conference, presided over by the Prime Minister himself Sir Ramsay MacDonald. The Prime Minister is flanked by Lord Peel, the chair of the conference, and Sir Samuel Hoare, the Secretary of State for India. To Sir Samuel's left is Burma's lone woman representative, "Miss May Oung" (Daw Mya Sein) whose wit and charm made a great impression on all who met her in London. We are grateful to Thant Myint-U for the identities and to Timeline Photos for the photograph.
- The cancellation of the 35 by-elections due in late 2014 on a variety of grounds relating to expense, convenience and political necessity
- The forlorn search for buried Spitfires in Myanmar which was based on the flimsiest of evidence
- Wikileaks: A collection of diplomatic revelations on US perceptions of, and revelations about Burma/Myanmar
- Transcript of discussion with Representative Bill Richardson (US) and Suu Kyi on 15 February 1994
- Despatches from Seth Mydans, Robert Pear and Steven Erlanger, special to the New York Times 1988-1990
- "The Loyal Karens of Burma" by Donald Mackenzie Smeaton (1846-1910) first published 1887 and available from Amazon
- "A Personal Narrative of Two Years' Imprisonment in Burmah 1824-26" by Henry Gouger first published in 1860 and available from Amazon
- "The Burman: His Life and Notions" by Sir George Scott (Shway Yoe) Second Edition digitalized 1896, 615 pages
- An Account of an Embassy to the Kingdom of Ava by Major Michael Symes, London 1800, reprinted SBBR Vol. 4 Issue 1-2006
Murder charge against Aung San in 1946
Burma Studies Conference - Singapore 1-3 August 2014
Jiang Fan, Lecturer at the Guangzhou Administration Institute, explains that Aung San was the most prominent Burmese nationalist to fight for the independence of Burma from British colonial rule. In 1946, Aung San was accused of murdering a village headman during the Second World War. This was not politically motivated because Aung San himself acknoweldged that he was responsible. However, the British government had to consider how they could cope with the consequences of arresting Aung San.
While examining how best to deal with the murder charge, Burma attracted the attention of an otherwise preoccupied British government. Relations between Governor Dorman-Smith and London deteriorated sharply. By examining British official documents, Jiang Fan reveals how the murder case triggered divergences within the British government, and how it accelerated the change of postwar British policy towards Burma.
The Death of General Aung San on 19 July 1947
- Who really killed Aung San? - 5 part BBC 2 Documentary 19 July 1997
- Independent assessments of the truth of the BBC 2 Documentary
- The death of Aung San in 1947 - An important clarification in 2013
Trading with the Enemy
Far Eastern Economic Review - 10 March 1994
The author and historian Thant Myint-U argues in favour of commercial and developmental enagement with Myanmar.
Beauty and the Beast
The Guardian - 27 May 2000
Timothy Garton Ash visited Myanmar and talked with Suu Kyi
Video Report of a Lecture at the World Affairs Council of North Carolina
On 22 February 2007 by Thant Myint-U, grandson of former UN Secretary-General U Thant in which he traces the recent history of Myanmar and responds to questions.
Extracts from a Despatch from the British Ambassador in Rangoon
dated 24 January 1974 to the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary about the Proclamation made on 3 January 1974 of Burma's New Constitution, including the Referendum Results.
Asian Research Institute, National University of Singapore Working Paper August 2007
Dr Maung Aung Moe discusses the political transition in Myanmar. His paper studies the political circumstances that led to the holding of the National Convention and drafting of a new constitution in Myanmar. It also examines the nature of the political executive that the new constitution will produce for Myanmar in the future.
From the past: Debate on the Burma Independence Bill - 5 November 1947
Hansard for 5 November 1947
Essential reading. Prime Minister Clement Attlee and Leader of the Opposition Winston Churchill clash over the future of Burma outside the Commonwealth during the second and definitive reading of the Burma Independence Bill.
Report of the Frontier Areas Committee of Enquiry 1947
Superintendent Government Printing and Stationery Rangoon 1947
Report presented to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of Burma.
Archive of the wedding of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton
The Ambassador of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar accredited to the Court of St James's His Excellency U Kyaw Myo Htut attended the wedding of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton on 29 April 2011.
- Report of the Royal Wedding in The New Light of Myanmar on 30 April 2011Report of the Royal
- Wedding in the Burmese-language 'The Mirror' of 30 April 2011
- Report of the Royal Wedding in the Myanmar Times 2-8 May 2011
Reports from Myanmar indicate that at tea-shops with satellite television European football was by popular demand dumped for the day in favour of the Royal Wedding. Below, 'The Times' photographer Max Mumby captures the delight of the newly wedded couple as they catch sight of a Royal Air Force Sea King helicopter passing overhead.
A Minute by Mr JNR Curle Protocol Department 11 July 1974 in File FCO 15/1873 at the National Archives. "Sir Martin Charteris [Private Secretary to HM The Queen] telephoned to say this morning that, though The Queen was very busy during 12-20 July, She liked Ne Win and would probably be inclined to offer him e.g. tea if he should some sign of wanting to pay his respects."
Earl Mountbatten of Burma, the Princess Royal and Princess Alexandra were occasional visitors to Burma during the 1960s and 1970s. General Ne Win of Burma was invited to the wedding of Princess Alexandra and Mr Angus Ogilvy on 24 April 1963, but declined, explaining that he could not venture out of Burma "until after the rains".
To encourage the democratic process while respecting their duty under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations not to interfere in the internal affairs of the UK, ASEAN missions have launched a Five-Year Political Development Fund with the following objectives:
- To encourage the UK to choose another designation for the country, given that all ASEAN countries are historically united kingdoms. "Britannia" is strongly recommended.
- To promote cleaner living through a Moralities (Parliamentary) Act which will require all Members of both Houses of Parliament to register their illicit pursuits in a Book of Shame available for public inspection.
- To provide facilities for all Members of the House of Commons to be seated. They propose the construction of a two-tier gallery system whereby MPs sanctioned by Mr Speaker are required to sit in silence in the Upper Gallery without the right of intervention until a suitable seat is vacated in the Lower Gallery.
- To make non-discriminatory grants to all political parties and individuals contesting the elections in order to enhance their material well-being and to reduce incentives to expense account irregularities which regrettably have been so prevalent in recent years.
- To expand the work of the UK-Myanmar Antarctic Expedition in the light of their recent ornithological discoveries, which the BBC have kindly recorded in a television programme.
ASEAN Missions have invited Mr Alex Salmond of the Scottish National Party to be their Special Rapporteur to monitor the progress of the Development Fund initiative. Mr Salmond is particularly well qualified for this position in the light of his devotion to fundamental change in the structure of the United Kingdom
This statement has been issued in the main languages currently spoken the UK, including the Polish, Bengali, Angloromani, Brythonic Celtic, Goidelic Celtic, Cockney and Shelta languages.
BBC Special Report on the UK-Myanmar Antarctic Expedition
The Myanmar government is sending an observer team to the United Kingdom in advance of the elections to be held there on May 7.