The leading Shan delegate, the Saopha of Hsipaw, together with his Mahadevi at St James Palace
November 1931 - 13 January 1932
Burma Roundtable Conference
room United Kingdom
In November 1931, two dozen delegates from Burma began arriving in London to participate in the historic Burma Roundtable Conference that would determine the country's constitutional future. U Chit Hlaing, Miss May Oung (Daw Mya Sein), Tharawaddy U Pu, U Ba Pe, the Saopha of Yawnghwe, U Maung Gyee, and Saw Sydney Loo-Nee were amongst those who participated.
On 13 January 1932, Burmese delegates arrived at St James's Palace for the final session of the Burma Roundtable Conference in London. The Prince of Wales opened the proceedings. It was there that agreement was reached in principle to separate Burma from India - perhaps the single most important decision in Myanmar's 20th century history.
The top photograph, taken on 8 January 1932, shows the first plenary session of the Burma roundtable conference at St James’s Palace, London. A large coloured map of Burma hangs on the back wall.