Sea of Troubles

Three months ago famed Medical Missionary Dr. Gordon S. (Burma Surgeon) Seagrave entered Rangoon's red-and-cream brick high court to stand trial for treason. Last week a crowd gathered to hear the verdict. Dr. Seagrave was brought into court from a comfortable U.S. Embassy bungalow, where he was allowed to stay after he became ill in Rangoon's crowded, noisy jail.

The three judges filed in, took their places on the bench. Seagrave remained standing. One of the judges began reading the tribunal's verdict: Charge No. 1, that Seagrave had given aid and comfort to the State's enemies by having tea with a Kachin rebel leader, allowing the rebels to play football on hospital grounds--not guilty; charge No. 2, that he had written a letter to facilitate the rebels' arrest of a government commissioner--guilty; charge No. 3, that he had given medical help to rebels--guilty. Said the judge: "We must take a serious view of the gravity of the offense . . . While the country was in a sea of troubles, the accused . . . acted in a manner prejudicial to the State and his act was like that of one--graphically described in the old Burmese saying--who pressed down with a pole on a drowning man." The sentence: six years hard labor.

Seagrave did not flinch, but suddenly he looked older than his 53 years. For almost half his life Surgeon Seagrave had been giving medical aid to Burmese peasants, and then a crazy-quilt civil war, spreading around his hill-country hospital, had tangled him in bitter national rivalries. A Burmese reporter asked him for his reaction to the verdict. He replied: "Whatever some few do to me, I want you to know I still love the people of Burma." He added: "I sincerely hope the American people will not judge the people of Burma by the actions of a few."

Two Burmese nurses who had testified for Seagrave wept quietly. Seagrave patted their shoulders. His able Burmese attorney, U Kyaw Myint, who has served without fee, said: "I would like to appeal the case immediately. Will you sign the authority for me to do so?"

Said Seagrave: "But I hate like sin to keep imposing on you." With a smile, U Kyaw Myint said softly: "As a Burman, I think I owe it to you."

Seagrave signed the paper. Told that he could not return to the bungalow, but would have to go to jail, Seagrave muttered: "Oh Lord, I simply cannot sleep there." Up to this time Seagrave had flatly refused to consider deportation, now he was heard to say: "I think I would almost rather take exile from Burma." All of the Baptist missionaries in Burma were in Rangoon for a meeting, but only one of them was in the courtroom to hear sentence passed on their former colleague, who has operated independently of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society since 1942. As he left the courtroom, Seagrave turned to his loyal friend, Rev. Walter D. Sutton, and asked for his prayers. Said Seagrave: "God bless you. Don't forget to remember me upwards."

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