U Nu having breakfast before the negotiations. Standing left to right: ICS U Chan Tun, Hon. Vum Ko Hau, U Tun Lin
1 October 1947
Nu-Attlee Agreement
1 October is the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Provisional Government of the Union of Burma on the independence of Burma (the Nu-Attlee Agreement).
The agreement came after months of negotiations led by U Nu (then Premier of the Burma Provisional Government), U Tin Tut (Finance Minister) and others. The signing by U Nu and the British Prime Minister Clement Attlee (shown in this video) was witnessed by Bo Let Ya (Defense Minister), U Tin Tut, British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin, British Economic Affairs Secretary Stafford Cripps, and other members of both cabinets.
It was a hopeful time, even if coming so soon after the assassinations of U Aung San, Thakin Mya and other leaders. Unfortunately, civil war was just around the corner.
The video shows the historic signing of the Nu-Attlee Agreement on 1 October 1947, which finalised agreements for Burma's independence from Britain. Remarks were made by both Prime Minister Attlee and Premier U Nu. It is made available online by British Pathé, a rich collection of archival footage that contains numerous news reels of historical events in Burma. Below, a newspaper shows Premier U Nu having a big breakfast on his big day.