Daw Khin Kyi

Prime Minister U Nu, Daw Mya Yee and Daw Khin Kyi in England 1950

On U Nu's visit to England in 1950, he tried hard to paint as rosy a picture as possible of the situation in Burma. He said peace was likely "within a year" and encouraged British aid and investment. An article published in the UK's Spectator magazine on 26 May 1950, however, painted challenged his optimism: "For some generations it has been customary to speak of the ingrained pessimism of the East, and to contrast it with the active hopefulness of...

Richard Nixon's Visit to Myanmar in 1953

Vice-President of the United States Richard Nixon visited Myanmar in 1953. Nixon happened to visit on Thanksgiving Day and his Burmese hosts managed to rustle up a turkey for lunch. The US newspapers at the time reported on his confrontation with left-wing and anti-American demonstrators at Pegu. A very witty Burmese communist held a sign that reads: “Pax Vobiscum  [Peace be With You] Scant regard for homo sapiens of the East   begets doubts about your move for peace.  Rest assured,...