Decolonisation in Asia

Question 1

What were the steps towards independence for Burma

Answer 1

• Talks took place between Aung San and Attlee’s government in London in Jan 1947.
• It was agreed that elections for a Constituent Assembly would take place in April 1947 – which produced a huge AFPFL majority.
• However, the factions of the AFPFL couldn’t agree and Aung San was assassinated in July 1947.
• Granted independence in Jan 1948.

Question 2

How successful was British withdrawal from Burma

Answer 2

• Not very - Britain left swiftly, there was an eruption of civil war, the Burmese turned their backs on Britain and rejected the idea of joining the British Commonwealth.

Question 3

What nationalist groups and leaders fought for independence

Answer 3

• suffered from ethnic tensions between the Chinese and Indians and the Malay peoples.
• The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) was created in March 1946 for the fight for the rights of the Malay peoples.
• had been a large wave of Chinese immigration to Malaya in the late 19th century, encouraged by the British who needed labour for the tin mines and rubber plantations.

Question 4

What was the Federation of Malaya

Answer 4

• June 1947, Britain offered a new scheme -> more restricted definition of Malay citizenship which was discriminatory against the Chinese.
• Federation of Malaya was created in January 1948.
  -> ‘Federation of Malaya Executive Council’ with 7 officials and 7 unofficial members headed by
  the British high Commissioner which had the real power.

Question 5

Explain the State of Emergency in Malaya

Answer 5

• new federation had many problems, partly because of the state of the post-war economy and partly because of Chinese grievances.
• Malayan Communist Party’s Malaya People’s Anti-British Army launched an insurgency in 1948 which lasted until 1960.
• concerns over damaging rebel attacks on rubber plantations so they declared a State of
  Emergency in June 1948.
• 1952, order was restored and the British believed their hold of Malaya was secure.
• However, to keep support during the State of Emergency, the British had made promises of Malay independence.

Question 6

Explain the process of independence in Malaya

Answer 6

• 1952-54, both the Malays and Chinese united against British rule and won 81% of voted in the federal elections of 1955.
• Reid Commission, led by Lord William Reid, was established in 1955 to draw up a new democratic constitution.
• 1957 Malaya was granted independence.
• continued British presence in Singapore and Malaya continued to collaborate economically with Britain, remaining in the Stirling Area.

Question 7

How was successful was British withdrawal

Answer 7

• Fairly successful - despite the previous tensions, there was no further violence in the region.
• Britain retained the economic and strategic benefits of the region.

Question 8

summarise the steps towards Singapore’s independence

Answer 8

• 1953: Gov in Singapore struggle to contain Communist insurgence -> attempt to win loyalty of by enlarging the Legislative council to 32 seats.
• 1955: SPP (Conservative Party) won only 3 seats and new left-wing parties emerged:
  -> Labour Front
  -> People’s Action Party (PAP)
• 1957: leader of a left-wing group, Lim Yew Hock, persuaded Britain to implement full self-gov.
  -> 1958: led to state of Singapore Act.
• 1959: Lee Guam Yew of PAP (who had communist leanings) came to power.

Question 9

Explain Britain’s scheme to unite Singapore with Malaysia

Answer 9

• 1963: Britain decides Singapore should be part of the Federation of Malaya.
• 1965: Scheme proved unworkable due to ethnic differences -> Aug 1965, Singapore was expelled from Malaysia and became fully independent.

Question 10

How successful was British withdrawal from Singapore

Answer 10

• Not massively, the scheme to unite it with Malaya failed after only two years because of ethnic tensions.