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353 
 
Bo Lei Ya
U Nu - biography.

Thursday March 10

Japan 1941; Second in-Command of Burmese forces under the Japanese; a leader of the Resistance Movement; Minister for Home Affairs & Defense & Deputy Premier 1948; now in business

U Nu: born 1906; B.A. Rangoon '29. School teacher; joined Do Bama Party '30. Student leader; interned '40. Foreign Minister 1943. Information Minister '44. Vice Pres. A.F.P.F.L. Speaker of Constituent Assembly, 47. Deputy Chairman, Governor Exec. Councillor; Pres. A.F.P.F.L. July 47. first Prime Minister of Independent Burma since Jan. 1948; author of numerous plays & novels.

In telling a story of an accusation against him he relates: "I'd rather not say anything. How could I possibly have printed this? And supposing I had printed it, would I have signed my name to it? And if I had signed it, wouldn't I have the sense to be hiding in the jungle? At a time like this no one but a madman would sign & publish such a thing & then remain in the open.



354

U Nu.

If we Burmese fall into the pit, it is because we have been pushed in by Burmese."

"It was like dodging a snake & treading on a scorpion. Since I took up politics I have never been so miserable. Before then I might be thirsty but I was happy; I might be hungry but I was happy; in jail or out of jail, I was quite happy. Now it was a case of a golden palace & an empty belly. When I saw how little I could do I was so ashamed I used to go up to my room in the office by the back stairs & come down again also by the back stairs."

Forgot to mention my conversation with Hacohen this afternoon. He told me he is under strong pressure to remain in the diplomatic service. (Probably Ambassador to Pekin) He has carefully established friendly relations with [[A?]] which was a delicate problem both for Israeli's & for American Jewry. He is also troubled at the thought of having to sell his house in Haifa - which is too large to keep up - besides the problem of Brach's not wanting it.