Chapter 271 – Aung San

“These Indians are deceiving us.” Commissioner’s Secretary Edel spotted the problem at once after seeing the contents of the telegram, “Even in a crazy army, it’s impossible that not a single person would surrender. The Indians are lying and deceiving us.”

“Yes, but on this matter alone I am glad to be deceived by the Indians.” Sir Barron said with an expression of relief, “Well, the matter is now settled. Just send a ship to the Andaman Islands to load the bodies on board, as previously discussed, and then blow up the ship, so that no one can find them.”

This solution, which originated with the Argentine military government to suppress the pro-Soviet elements, of course originated with the well-informed assistant commissioner.

It was really quite simple: even the bones of fifty thousand people were only two thousand five hundred tons of carbohydrates in weight, and freighters capable of holding two thousand five hundred tons were everywhere, and were not even a precious heritage to a maritime power like the British Empire.

At this time, however, Allen Wilson was approaching Rangoon, the capital of British Burma, to come to British Burma to continue to work for the British Empire.

The Burmese officials waiting to greet Allen Wilson are getting closer and closer to the cargo ship.

U Tin Thein, who is in his forties, did not witness the year, when the British Empire’s lobster soldiers marched majestically into Mandalay.

A team of tall, big, specializing in eating beef red in the face, wearing red military uniforms, shoulders with long rifles, boots on the ground sound, but also no lack of rhythm in the march, declared the fact that the demise of Burma.

But in U Tin Lwin’s formative years, the notion of siding with the British and clinging to their power became clear, and even as a boy, he saw this as his greatest ambition.

The young Wu Ding Lun at that time has set a great ambition, seventeen years old, he had sought a government position, but did not as expected, because of the penniless and no friends, he had to work in the crisscrossing Mandalay bazaar for three years, to help the rice merchants to do business, and from time to time, also stealing chickens and dogs.

By the time he was twenty years old, he was lucky enough to blackmail someone and had four hundred rupees, so he immediately went to Rangoon and bought his way to a clerk’s position. The job was not well paid, but it was quite lucrative. At that time there was a group of clerks, through the constant misappropriation of government reserves and win personal profit, he naturally also like this way.

After all, U Tin Lwin was too talented to be satisfied with a life of modest wealth, and he realized that the government was preparing to select some of the local Burmese clerks from among the Burmese, due to the lack of low-ranking officials.

In a week’s time the news would be publicized, but he had heard it a week earlier than anyone else. Sensing an opportunity, he accused his associates before they realized it. Most of them were arrested and jailed, but he was promoted to assistant township officer in recognition of his public service.

To-day he is one of the few Burmese officials in the capital city of Rangoon who is the equal of the British.

His youthful aspirations had been realized, and although Burma had been hit by the Japanese, he had escaped with flying colors, and had become a valuable force in the restoration of British Burma.

A pair of fiery eyes that had been tested in the officialdom helped Wu Ding Lun recognize Allen Wilson who disembarked from the ship, and took the initiative to step forward and politely open his mouth in English with some accent, “You are Mr. Allen, aren’t you, Commissioner Burgess asked me to come to pick you up.”

Allen Wilson froze, his eyes looked up and down at the middle-aged man in front of him, noticed the newspaper in Wu Ding Lun’s hand, and spoke, “Thank you very much for being able to be so considerate, by the way, you’re Chinese, right. I recognize the script you guys use.”

“Mr. Allen’s observation is really sharp.” Wu Ding Lun was a little surprised, but immediately realized where it went wrong, and smilingly introduced himself, “I’m a second generation Chinese, my children don’t really know Chinese characters anymore, and I have a half-understanding of what’s in the Chinese newspapers.”

It turns out to have been almost assimilated, Allen Wilson’s heart knows it, but takes a neutral stance on this kind of thing, it’s a matter of personal choice, and smiles, “Then I’ll trouble you to take me to see Burgess, it’s really been a while.”

“The Commissioner missed Mr. Allen very much and arranged for me to meet you here.” Wu Ding Lun pointed to the car parked in the distance and invited Allen Wilson to go up with him.

The car started and followed the streets of Rangoon until it arrived at the residence of the Governor-General of British Burma, the current Governor-General of Burma, Hugh Bertrams.

Hubertrans had actually just taken office, and the first Governor-General after the return of the British troops to Burma, Rednakin Tolman Smith, the pre-war Governor-General of Burma, had come back to be reinstated in his official position.

Along with his reinstatement came a British “White Paper” on Burma. According to London, the first task in Burma was to restore order and reconstruction, so in the interim, a provisional military government was needed to temporarily and directly manage all government affairs, and work with all the Burmese forces, and after the restoration work was completed, general elections would be held at an appropriate time.

Governor Smith was again a victim of changed times, and the governor was then replaced by General Hubert Lance, who was viewed favorably by the Burmese, and of course from U Tin Lun, Alan Wilson learned that the head of Burma, who had also not been in office for long, was a man named Aung San.

British Burma Governor’s Office, Allen Wilson met Burgess who had not seen him for a long time, and the two of them embraced each other in a friendly manner, even if they knew that the other party was a homosexual, but as long as they did not have any crooked thoughts about themselves, everything was good to discuss.

“How are you doing in Rangoon, McLean is doing quite well in Ceylon. Goes to the golf course a lot, I’ve heard all about it.” Alan Wilson said in a self-congratulatory tone, “Of course, we must also admit that the clearance operation in Ceylon was unanimously recognized by the whole of Ceylon, and MacLean has built up a wide range of prestige. But speaking of which, you are not far behind, and I hear that you are now very much embraced by the Burmese.”

“It’s all right, and it’s comforting to have Alan over for once. I’m in the middle of work every day.” Burgess said with a long sigh, “It’s easier to be a diplomat.”

“Especially being a diplomat to a major country.” Alan Wilson added a prefix to Burgess’s words, “Of course being a diplomat stationed in the United States is the best, there is no comparison in terms of conditions, there is no shortage of places to play, and you can also have a party, hehehe ……”

This hee hee is very subtle, Burgess of course can hear Alan Wilson’s voice, but he is not interested in that kind of thing, spoke up, “I just came to the office, I was shocked at the hostility of the Burmese to us, this place has become a fragmented but hostile place.”

“The Japanese have been here, it’s perfectly normal.” Alan Wilson spoke up, “A world war has changed a lot of things. Not just here in Burma, but at home as well, right?”

The issue of British India and British Burma was not just a local issue, it was a London issue, and like the issue of British India, British Burma was an important subject for Mr. Churchill to open fire on.

Churchill, as a Conservative MP, openly expressed his opposition to Adderley’s attitude towards Burma, not so much to the granting of self-government, but to the fact that the government was so eager to throw the still-recovering wreck of a country to a group of young radicals.

Churchill insisted that Britain should shoulder the responsibility of rebuilding Burma, make the Burmese understand the true meaning of elections and self-government, and then choose the right time for an orderly handover.

One of the main reasons for the opposition was the ambiguous relationship between a section of Burmese leaders, represented by General Aung San, and the Japanese during the war.

“If they cannot be pacified, we might as well try something else. Learn from British India that since it is national self-determination, all nationalities in Burma should be self-determined.” Alan Wilson raised one eyebrow and said, “As far as I know there are quite a few ethnic groups within Burma, not everyone is on good terms with the Burmese.”

“That’s not a good solution and will only increase future conflict.” Burgess shook his head firmly, the light of the Cambridge Five reappearing at this time to indicate that he and Alan Wilson, a complete colonial bureaucrat, were not one and the same.

Burgess agreed to deport the Rohingya, partly because Burma was indeed extremely unhappy with the Rohingya presence. Now Britain had to find a way to get on its feet and win the support of the native Burmese.

On the other hand, the Rohingya were indeed an alien colonial auxiliary force to the native Burmese. And Alan Wilson also promised to receive the Rohingya and must pay attention to the settlement of these people in British India.

Thinking of this Burgess asked, “Those Rohingya after returning to British India to get resettled or not?”

“Adequately resettled by Administrator Andrews.” Alan Wilson righteously assured, “I trust Administrator Andrew’s ability.”

That’s good, Burgess nodded and said with a sigh of relief, “Since you’re here, rest and relax here, I’ve heard about the drought in British India, and suggested that the Governor-General aid British India over.”

“Save the emergency not save the poor, the population of British India is not something that Burma can save.” Alan Wilson shook his head, “I also believe that the Indians have the ability to resist natural disasters, in fact, the worst time has passed, everything is okay.”

Unwilling to talk too much on this topic, Allen Wilson immediately changed the subject and asked what the local Burmese elites thought about the issue of currency reform now, whether there were more supporters or opponents.

“It’s hard to say, I’m also asking Aung San about them, and I haven’t gotten an answer yet. After all, it’s a new thing and may take a little time.” Burgess said honestly.