845C.00/2–1047: Telegram
The Consul General at Rangoon (Packer) to the Secretary of State
112. Made short call on Aung San morning 6[th]. He seemed less confident than when I saw him last, some weeks ago. He was very tired and not very communicative.
He said two most important subjects for immediate attention are reaching agreement with hill peoples and convening of Constituent Assembly at which Burma’s future will be decided. When asked about military provisions of agreement he smiled and said British troops might be stationed in Burma “for a long time to come.”
I asked how he felt about London Mission. He said constitutional processes sometimes produce difficulties in achieving desired action.
U Tin Tut was informed in London, he said, that rank Burmese [Page 16] representative Washington might be Diplomatic Agent at beginning but would be raised to Minister after elections. In response to his query, I informed him Indian representative in Washington will be Ambassador; this interested him. He said Burmese representative when selected in near, but not immediate, future could hardly reach Washington until after elections. Immediately after my departure he had meeting scheduled to discuss continuing spread of strikes which may soon include clerks various enterprises.
I asked what he could tell me re Communists from Burma attending Empire Communist Conference scheduled London shortly. He replied both Burmese groups41 had been invited but he thought there might be difficulties in their getting to UK.
Sent Dept 112, repeated London as 26.
- The Red Flag Communists were led by Thakin Soe.↩