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​Recommendations for Release Certificates for Secretary of State’s Officers
​
From H.E. Rance, late Governor of Burma
dated Camberley, U.K. 12th April 1948.
​Mr Dibdin’s criteria are, I think, most suitable.  As regards “public interest” it is clear enough that, very early in 1947, the Burma Government were not at all unwilling to see the last of any European Secretary of State’s Officer who wished the to retire because of political conditions or pending constitutional changes.  My comments on each case are as follows:-
 
R.S. Wilkie
The Government did not like him because of his strong pro-Kachin views.  If he had remained I am sure that pressure would have been brought to bear to remove him from the post of Commissioner, Sagaing Division.
 
L.M. Lees
Lees was a “dichard” and could never accept the new order, nor, I think would he have been accepted back by the Burmese Government if he had chosen ordinary leave and had sought to return.  His last conversation with me indicated that constitutional issues were the reason for his departure.  I recommend that he e given a release Certificate.
 
G.E.E. Webster
No Release Certificate should be given.
 
P. Murray
This Officer was moved from southern to northern Burma at short notice.  He was again to be moved from the north after a short stay in order to made way for a Burman sympathetic with Burmese police towards the Kachins.  In a fit of “pique” he applied for leave whereas if he had waited a day or so he could have been granted a Release Certificate.  I am very much in sympathy with him and would recommend therefore that he be treated leniently.  I recommend that he be given a Release Certificate.
 
K.G. Wynn
A good Officer.  I recommend that he be given a Release Certificate.
 
C.A. Vickers
There are, I am afraid, no legal grounds for refusing a Release Certificate as his L.P.R. [Leave Preparatory to Retirement] started after 30th April.  But for constitutional changes it is probable that he would have been the subject of a Departmental Enquiry but as this did not materialise I recommend that he be given a Release Certificate.
 
R.G.B. Prescott
If this Officer applies for a Release Certificate I could not recommend that his application should be granted.  I felt that he could ill be spared at the time of his departure and but for his daughter’s illness I would have refused any application for leave until the situation which existed at that time clarified.

C. Chettle
I recommend that he be given a Release Certificate.
 
A.A. Donald
The refusal of this Officer’s leave was originally due, I think, to a clash of personalities between himself, Prescott and Chettle.  I agree however, that constitutional changes were probably the deciding factor for his L.P.R.  I recommend that he be given a Release Certificate.
 
A.C. Carter
Again, I think, that Carter’s application for an extension of leave was refused because of a clash of personalities between himself and the I.G.P.  I recommend that he be given a Release Certificate.
 
H.W. Warner, C.H. Hampton and W. Lecky Thompson
I do not recommend that these Officers should be given Release Certificates.
 
W.H. Tydd
This Officer has been endeavouring to retire for some time and took the first opportunity of so doing. I do not recommend that he be given a Release Certificate.
 
A.H. Watson
It is time that he was out of touch with compensation issues as he was stationed in Akyab.  I am sure that his departure was due solely to political changes.  I recommend that he be given a Release Certificate.
 
E.W. Battersby
I do not consider that there are any grounds for the issue of a Release Certificate to him.  He has voluntarily accepted service with the Security Service and would not, I am certain, have returned to the Burma Police.
 
Burma Forest Service Officers
I.S. Vorley, J.W.R. Sutherland, T.C.D. Ricketts, E.C. Simmons and R.J. Sayers.
I do not recommend that they be given Release Certificates.
 
Burma Railways
1.  I do not recommend that the six officers, N. McAllister to Loveland, be given Release Certificates.
2.  Messrs. Lee, Blakeney, Dunn and Stuart.
 
The only person who can help over these cases is Mr Wakeford, the Chief Railway Commissioner.  I think it will be found that these Officers applied to retire in order to take up other employment.  I am not prepared to make any recommendation.  Maguire does not know anything of their cases.
 
H.N.C. Stevenson
It was never my intention that Stevenson should lose the higher category of compensation when I accepted his resignation.  His retirement undoubtedly was due to constitutional issues and although I did not agree with his policy for the Frontier Areas I would not, for that reason have “sacked” him.  I recommend that he should receive the higher rate of compensation.