Historical independence

History: Myanmar (Burma)

From the Burma Independence Act, 1947 to independence on 4 January 1948 and UN admission that April.

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The Aung San-Attlee Agreement

On 27 January 1947, Clement Attlee and Aung San signed an agreement promising Burmese independence within one year, providing that unification of the Frontier Areas with Ministerial Burma required the free consent of the inhabitants of those areas.[1]

· Agreement

Aung San-Attlee Agreement, 1947

Prime Minister Clement Attlee and Aung San signed an agreement on 27 January 1947 promising Burmese independence within one year and providing that unification of the Frontier Areas with Ministerial Burma required the free consent of the inhabitants.

The Panglong Agreement

On 12 February 1947, Aung San and representatives of the Shan, Kachin and Chin communities signed the Panglong Agreement, recognising full autonomy for the Shan and Karenni areas and autonomous status for the Kachin and Chin areas within the planned Union of Burma.[2]

· Agreement

Panglong Agreement, 1947

Aung San and representatives of the Shan, Kachin and Chin communities signed the Panglong Agreement on 12 February 1947, recognising full autonomy for the Shan and Karenni areas and autonomous status for the Kachin and Chin areas.

Independence

The Burma Independence Act, 1947, given Royal Assent on 10 December 1947, provided that "on the appointed day, Burma shall become an independent country, neither forming part of His Majesty's dominions nor entitled to His Majesty's protection," with "the appointed day" defined as 4 January 1948.[3]

· Declaration

Independence of Burma, 1948

The Burma Independence Act, 1947 established Burma as an independent country, outside the British Commonwealth, with effect from 4 January 1948.

United Nations membership

The Security Council unanimously recommended Burma's UN membership on 10 April 1948, and the General Assembly admitted the Union of Burma on 19 April 1948.[4][5]

· Recognition

Admission of Burma to the United Nations, 1948

The Security Council unanimously recommended the Union of Burma's admission to the United Nations on 10 April 1948, and the General Assembly admitted it on 19 April 1948.

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: On 27 January 1947, British Prime Minister Clement Attlee and Aung San signed an agreement, on behalf of the United Kingdom and Burma respectively, promising Burmese independence within one year and providing that unification of the Frontier Areas with Ministerial Burma into a single independent country would occur only with the free consent of the inhabitants of those areas.

    • Aung San and Independent Burma (LSE South Asia Blog) link, article text. Source record
  2. 2.

    Claim: On 12 February 1947, at Panglong in the Shan States, Aung San signed an agreement with representatives of the Shan, Kachin and Chin communities recognising full autonomy in internal administration for the Shan and Karenni areas and autonomous status for the Kachin and Chin areas within the planned Union of Burma.

  3. 3.

    Claim: The Burma Independence Act, 1947, given Royal Assent on 10 December 1947, provided in Section 1(1): "On the appointed day, Burma shall become an independent country, neither forming part of His Majesty's dominions nor entitled to His Majesty's protection." Section 1(2) defined "the appointed day" as "the fourth day of January, nineteen hundred and forty-eight." Section 1(3) provided that British suzerainty over the Karenni States, and all associated treaties and obligations, would lapse from the same date.

    • Parliament of the United Kingdom, Burma Independence Act, 1947 (11 & 12 Geo. 6, c. 3) (10 December 1947) link, Section 1. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  4. 4.

    Claim: On 10 April 1948, at its 279th meeting, the Security Council, having taken note of the unanimous approval of its members of the application of the Union of Burma, recommended to the General Assembly that Burma be admitted to UN membership; the vote was 10 in favour to none against, with Argentina abstaining.

    • United Nations Security Council, Security Council resolution 45 (1948) (United Nations, 10 April 1948) link, resolution text and voting record. Source record
  5. 5.

    Claim: The General Assembly, at its 131st plenary meeting on 19 April 1948, took note of Burma's application and the Security Council's recommendation, and "decides to admit the Union of Burma as a Member of the United Nations."

    • United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly resolution 188 (S-2): Admission of the Union of Burma to membership in the United Nations (United Nations, 19 April 1948) link, operative paragraph. Source record

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