We gather that the British Commonwealth talks with the Burmese
Government have not made very much progress and indeed seem more
or less to have broken down. But we are rather in the dark as to
exactly why. Nor can we judge the significance of a recent
proclamation by the Karens of a separate State, and the Burmese
Government's reaction to this. I need not give you the story of
our attitude on the Burma situation; you will know the background.

We have not been as consistent as we might have been-but then we
seldom are. The fact remains, however, that we should keep up to
date on what is happening in Burma, and I am trying to do that in
case we should at any time decide to take an active interest in it
again.