Freedom in a Frame

To Burma, the Japs last week gave "independence." The gift came all tied up in pretty strings and boxed "within the framework of Japan's co-prosperity sphere": Lieut. General Masakazu Ka-wabe, Commander in Chief of Japanese forces in Burma, abolished his military administration; members of the "Burma Independence Preparatory Committee," established by the Japs six weeks earlier, were called to a meeting; the Committee quickly named itself a "National Assembly," and appointed wily, womanish Dr. Ba Maw Premier of Burma. It only remained for Ba Maw to sign a treaty of alliance pledging Burma to military, political and economic cooperation in the prosecution of the Greater East Asia war. Then the brave new Burma of Dr. Ba Maw declared war on the U.S. and Britain.

The man who will manipulate the strings of Burma-at-war is Japan's "Special Ambassador" Renzo Sawada, who will stay on in Rangoon as permanent Ambassador from Japan. Burma's new Foreign Minister, Thakin Nu, blandly declared: "Burma is without experience regarding foreign policy. Consequently it is necessary to request advice from Ambassador Sawada, who is experienced in inter national foreign relations, and we have notified him of this fact. After conferring with Ambassador Sawada, domestic affairs, organization and selection of the foreign affairs personnel will be quickly decided upon." Burma's independence, Jap-style, was served up last week for good Japanese reasons: 1) propaganda to India (from Singapore, Indian Agitator Subhas Chandra Bose broadcast: "Now that India's neighbor Burma has achieved its freedom, nothing on earth can keep the Indians enslaved any longer"); 2) there is severe economic distress in Burma and the Japs would rather see public wrath directed at Ba Maw than at themselves; 3) the Japs expect an Allied offensive into Burma, think the political gesture toward the Burmese is timely.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.