Recurrence of Rumors of Resignation of U Nu, Prime Minister of Burma

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-00915R000400360002-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 22, 1998
• Sequence Number: 2
• Content Type: REPORT

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Recurrence of Rumors of Resignation of U Nu,
Prime Minister of Burma
25X1X6
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Background
1. On several occasions in the past, U Nu has threatened to
resign. This has always turned out to be a political maneuver, as
U Nu has counted on the Burma Socialist Party (BSP) need for him
to hold the government coalition (AFPFL) together, and they have
"persuaded" him to remain. A recent series of reports, however,
indicate a new and similar situation with apparently a more real
possibility that the BSP may decide to dispense with U Nu.
Evidence
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describe a meeting on 7
January 1956 between U Nu and leaders of the Socialist Party.1 One
version, says that U Hla Maung called on U Nu with a virtual ultima-
tum, while the other source states that the meeting was called by
U Nu. Both state the Prime Minister was told that the Socialist
Party had decided that he should resign following the 27 April elec-
tions. U Ba Swe, Defense Minister and prominent BSP leftist
leader, was to become prime minister, with U Kyaw Nyein, Minister
of Industries, Secretary of the Socialist Party and leader of the
more right-wing elements in the party, as vice-prime minister.
Thakin Tin, Minister of Land Nationalization would also serve as
a vice-prime minister.
25X1X6 1 is not clear as to whether Hla Maung was ac-
companied by other BSP leaders. Hla Maung says that Ba Swe,
Kyaw Nyein and Thakin Tin were present, with Kyaw Nyein taking
the leading part.
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3. U Nu was unprepared for this and answered only that the
BSP leaders should do as they thought best. They agreed to con-
sider the matter further, but at least until the latter part of Febru-
ary no further decision has been communicated to U Nu.
Other Signs and Portents
4. It has often appeared that the BSP has been nnhann.r
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to the Soviet Union to attend the next Afro-Asian Conference and
compelled him (by cable) to retract it. (That he did retract it is
public information.) The source went on to say that the Socialists
were increasingly disenchanted with U Nu and that Home Minister
and party leader Bo Khin Maung Gale had suggested that he ought
to be dropped. 25X1X6
stated that the BSP had disapproved of U Nu.'s invitation (in Moscow)
;.= r- L ,.y. .cz 1 urL
as early as 1955
for support either for university legislation or for an appointment
as Ambassador.
ne expectea to be removed as prime minister after the election.
He told the Rector this so that the latter would not count on him
of Rangoon University in a private conversation that 1)FY1 Rnrl1
5. Another
6. iso reported that the principal BSP man in
the War Office told U Nuts wife, in answer to a query that she
should be looking for a house. Source added that U Nu has asked
his wife to put up K. 30, 000 towards building a house. The site
has already been acquired. This could be an indication that Nu
expects to have to leave the Prime Ministerts residence.
7. The same report stated that U Nu has proposed to the
BSP that U Thant, a politician completely dependent on U Nu
support, be a candidate for election to Parliament. U Nu was
said to hope that U Thant could win the election and be appointed
Information Minister, and thus be firmly established politically
before U Nu steps out.
report says that U Nu told the Rector
ornnry,
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lew
-JLWILI
8. The fact that U Nuts constituents in the Lanmadaw district
of Rangoon were dissatisfied with him and asked in late March that
he be replaced as their representative by Kyaw Nyein may also
indicate that his hold on the Burmese public may not be as strong
as formerly.
9. The BSP felt it necessary to release a statement by Informa-
tion Minister U Tun Win to the press (The Nation, 10 March) to the
effect that U Nu would remain as Prime Minister as long as the
AFPFL remained in power. This may be a, case of protesting too
much, and could indicate that the BSP leaders have been consider-
ing his replacement and are aware that the rumor is being circu-
late d.
Summary of the Evidence
10. It seems clear that the question of U Nuts retirement is
again under consideration by BSP leaders. U Nu may have brought
it up, as he has done before to put pressure on the BSP, but there
seems a stronger possibility this time that they may take him up
on it which should not be ignored. It may be that the Socialists
have stirred this matter up simply to keep U Nu under control and
that they will not actually carry through with it.
Effect of the elections
11. This affair should be considered in its relation to certain
implications in the results of the Burmese elections. State Depart-
ment reports have suggested that, following the AFPFL loss of
strength, there may be a temptation for leftist elements in the BSP
to reach out to the left "to osition" for support. The de ree of loss
of strength so far apparent does not seem to create any overwhelm-
ing pressure in that direction for the government as presently con
stituted. However, if U Nu steps out and U Ba Swe becomes-prime
minister, he may find himself opposed within the government and
the party by the "rightist" elements of the Socialist Party led by
K~aw Nyein and thus under the necessity of seeking support from the
more extreme leftist "opposition" elements. This would undoubtedly
then serve to direct Burmese policy further to the left.
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U. S. Interest
12. In the immediate future, at least, U. S. interests in Burma
would be best served if U Nu stays on as prime minister. If he goes
it would be in our interest to have Kyaw Nyein win out over Ba Swe
in any internal Socialist Party struggle, since he is generally more
pro-Western in orientation and a stauncher opponent of the legaliza-
tion of the Burma Communist Party than Ba Swe.
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