Description
T.L. Hughes C.B.E. and Mrs Hughes
Burma: 1941-1947
- Memoir ‘Some personal recollections of Burma, 1941-47’, by Thoms Lewis Hughes. (Chapter 1, pp. 1-21, missing):
- CHAPTER II – GOVERNMENT IN EXILE: Appointed P.S. to Sir Reginald Dorman Smith, Burma.The Loss of Burma ? its effect on British and Burmese. 1942 Takes up appt. in Simla. The situation in Burma. Outline for Burmese Independence. 1943 New S.E. Asia command: appt. of Lord Mountbatten. 1944 Blue Print for Burma published. 1945 Policy promulgated in White Paper.
- CHAPTER III- RETURN TO RANGOON: Appointed as personal representative of the Government of Burma and Chief Liaison Office to G.O.C. XIV Army in Rangoon. Civil Affairs Service C.A.S.(B) Charged with rehabilitation. The Handover: Japanese capitulation. Civil govt designed to return to Burma on 1 October 1945. 1 February 1946 Commission dissolved: consequences of transfer to Civil Govt. The Timeliness of handover. South Asia Command – parallel to C.A.S.(B).
- CHAPTER IV – THE POLITICAL SCENE: 1945 R.M.S. Cumberland brings Governor, Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, to Rangoon. Effect of Anti-Fascist organisation. Later the Anti Fascist People`s Freedom League. Aung Sang and A.F.P.F.L. The Thakin Movement. The Burma Independence Army re-formed as Burma Defence Army: Japanese played off against British. Burma National Army, Mountbatten, and Aung Sang. A.F.P.F.L. disintegrates and reforms. Myochit Party and U Saw. Dobama Asi Ayone absorbed into Mahabama Asi Ayone. Sinyetha Party absorbed into Mahabama Asi Ayone. Nomination of Executive Council, Results of Contracts with prewar personalties. Governor’s return and control of political parties. A.F.P.F.L. remains independent possibly leading to severance of ties with Britain. 1946 The Executive Council in office and Hughes appointed as Secretary. Legislative Council announced. Attitude of Public and Press after liberation.
- CHAPTER V: September 1946 Hughes delivers lecture to the Royal Central Asian Society on Law and Order in Burma.
- CHAPTER VI – COOPERATION OR CHAOS: Threat of Rebellion. Labour Govt. appointed in England. Pethick-Lawrence new Secretary of State for Burma. Dorman-Smith retained as Governor: sets up Council of Ministers. Aung San’s position. A.F.P.F.L. increasingly powerful. ‘The End of a Career’ Dorman-Smith proposes Constituent Assembly: Hughes remains as Governor’s Secretary, serving Sir Henry Knight. Dorman-Smith replaced as Governor by General Rance.
- CHAPTER VII – EPILOGUE: Hughes retires to write Report on Civil Administration of Burma 1945-6. ‘The Republic of Burma’. A.F.P.F.L. organises national strike. Burmese Delegation to London to discuss new Constitution for fully independent Burma. Burma secedes from the Commonwealth and becomes independent Republic. 19 July 1947 – Aung San killed. 4 January 1948 – British rule ends. Speculation on what might have been if Dorman-Smith’s proposal had been followed. Present day conditions
- Memoir: ‘No Business in Camp’, by Neil Hughes. Memoir of the wife of T.L. Hughes q.v. who went into camp all over Burma with her husband, and their ordeal from 1941. 236pp. Map. Drawings.
