The Executive Secretary to
the Preparatory Committee of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Employment ·
Geneva
The United Kingdom Delegation is authorized by His
Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to make the following declaration with regard to the status of Burma, Ceylon and Southern Rhodesia with the view to the participation of these territories, as full contracting parties, in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, by reference to the following
questions:
Burma
(a) Are these territories able to approve and modify their tariffs without requiring the consent of the United Kingdom? (b) Are these territories able to apply the General Agreement without reference to the United Kingdom
Government?
(c) Are these territories able to enter into contractual relations on commercial matters with foreign Governments, including any examples of such contractual relations?
(d) What is the position of the Representatives of these territories during the present negotiations, including an indication of any changes in their position which may have occurred during the course of the negotiations?
The answers to Questions (a), (b) and (c) are in the
affirmative.
As regards question (c), His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom recognizes the right of Burma to enter into such contractual relations. Burma has, in fact, entered into
commercial agreements with the Union of South Africa in,1938 and