OCCASIONAL NOTE

Perhaps the most interesting feature of the Burma programme of reform which has been tabled by Sir Reginald Craddock, on behalf of the local Government, is the definite stand which it takes for practical separation from India. The remoteness of Burma from India is apt to strike every visitor from this country who lands at Rangoon, in spite of what might almost be called the preponderance of Tamils and Hindustani over Burmans in its main streets. So considerable is the Indian element in the streets of Rangoon that, but for the presence of the Chinese, one might almost imagine oneself back in India. In spite of these superficial phenomena, however, it speedily becomes clear to the visitor that Burma has its back turned to India, and its face towards the Further East. This renders it all the more surprising that the separatist political tendency has not been more pronounced than it has been. It has evidently made itself abundantly manifest to the Government, however, and Sir Reginald Craddock, going to the province presumably without any prepossession in favour of the idea, has not hesitated to endorse it. On the other hand, the Burma programme does not contemplate breaking loose from India until the eastern province is fully capable of standing by itself, and until this consummation is attained, a special department of the Government of India will keep that Government in touch with Burmese affairs.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE ON THE MAIDAN

On Wednesday afternoon there was great excitement on the Maidan, when it became known that an Oryiah had attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself to one of the iron railings fencing off the Havildar Tank. At the hour of occurrence crowds of Indians were making their way to the Racecourse to view the aeroplane and were passing by the Havildar Tank. A grass-cutter was the first to see the man hanging, and before he had time to rush to his help, the rope by which the Oryiah was suspended by his neck suddenly snapped and the man fell to the ground partially unconscious. One of the crowd who gathered round fetched some water from the tank and splashed the man’s face with it, causing him to revive. When asked why he had attempted to take his life he said that he had killed a cow in his country and wanted to pay the extreme penalty by taking his own life. Shortly afterwards the police arrived and took the man safely away. He will be sent for medical observation.

MADRAS COOLY STRIKE OVER

The cooly strike at Messrs. Shaw Wallace and Co’s kerosene installations in Madras ended today. The points of difference appear to have been very small. When the coolies struck work on Monday, the grievance that most of them professed was that they had not been given cloths by the firm at the last Pongal festival. They sent Mr. C.F. Andrews to the firm yesterday as their spokesman and he had a brief interview with Mr. R.T. Menzies and Mr. A.R. Birch. The result was satisfactory to all concerned and the coolies resumed work this morning. Many of the coolies appeared to be ignorant of the fact that rice money had been sanctioned for them by the firm prior to the strike.

THE DELHI CONGRESS

It is stated that a number of agricultural tenants will attend the Delhi Congress as delegates from the United Provinces. It is understood that the Congress will adopt an address to the King-Emperor offering him India’s loyal greetings and congratulations on the glorious termination of the war, and beseeching his gracious support for the realisation of the message of “hope” which he left when leaving India. It is also proposed to adopt an address to the House of Parliament setting forth India’s grievances and demands. It is proposed that these addresses should be presented by deputations appointed by Congress, and also that a Congress of 50 to 100 Indians should be held in London in May next to press India’s claims upon the attention of the British public.

CALCUTTARANGOON AERIAL MAIL

The Postmaster General of Bengal and Mr. Forde, of the Handley-Page Aeroplane Company, have arrived in Rangoon from Akyab, where they were investigating sites for an aerodrome for an aerial mail between Calcutta and Rangoon. They are to spend ten days here on a similar quest, their requirements being a piece of land not less than 600 yards square within a reasonable distance of Rangoon and beyond the possibility of being flooded in the rainy season.