Independence

Independence came last week to Burma and its 15 million people.

Thousands of Burmans caroused amiably along Rangoon's steamy, tropical waterfront. Some still recalled the day in 1885 when Burma's last king, brash Thibaw, sailed into exile and the British took over. Now, British rule was at an end.

Atop gloomy Government House, where the Union Jack had flown for 62 years, the new red-white-&-blue Burmese flag fluttered. Sir Hubert Rance, Britain's last governor of Burma, emerged from the building, drove to the pier. He boarded the hulking British cruiser H.M.S. Birmingham and, like Thibaw, sailed from Burma's shores.

State musicians in classical court dress played the sonorous "drum song" and happy throngs chanted the plaintive national anthem: "Until the end of time, this is our land. . . ."

In its colonial heyday, Burma had been a joy and profit to the British Empire. It was rich in rice, teak, petroleum and jewels; its amiable people (according to one historian) "caused no governor-general a sleepless night." In 1942 the British awoke; as British troops retreated from Burma, the conquering Japanese made quick friends among Burmese politicians. In 1943, the British returned as liberators, but only to prepare a graceful exit.

Last week, British businessmen in Bur ma thought they would stay on. Britain still holds large investments in Burmese commerce and industry, and most of Burma's exports go to Empire countries. Burma, squeezed between two Asiatic giants (India and China), has permitted Britain to maintain military missions.

Different Burmans had different ideas as to what independence meant : a popular actress advocated high-caliber plays which would reform wayward girls; a monk hoped that Buddhism would flourish. But even with British help, the new state will have a hard time enjoying the blessings of sovereignty. Twice a battleground in World War II, Burma emerged with its oil refineries in ruins, its rice and teak exports paralyzed.

Burma's celebrators last week had a sharp reminder of their continuing time of troubles. On public display, in glass coffins, lay the embalmed bodies of Aung San, Burma's youthful "strong man" and six cabinet colleagues, who had been murdered (TIME, July 28).

A special court passed the death sentence on U Saw, Burma's pro-Japanese nationalist leader, and eight accomplices, for plotting Aung San's murder.

U Saw, who had taken the Buddhist cure for his troubles (i.e., counting beads and keeping the Buddhist Sabbath), paled as he entered the death cell in Insein jail. Outside, in a glare of fireworks, the independence festivities had begun.

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