<論説>日本占領期ビルマにおける国立銀行問題

Abstract

日本は、バ・モオ政府の中央銀行としてビルマ国立銀行を発足させ(一九四四年一月) 、一年後をメドにビルマ国立銀行券を発行させることにした。新券の発行時には、南発券(軍票) の発行をやめ、軍費・進出企業の運営費も国立銀行券で賄う予定だった。だが、軍費が嵩んだこともあり、一九四四年六月には予定が変えられ、南発券の発行を続けることになった。これに対し、バ・モオ政府は、「通貨自主権」という論理を持ち出して反撃した。日本は妥協し、南発券の発行をやめ、ビルマ国立銀行券を利子付きで借りて軍費に充てることにした。また、必要量を毎月提示することや、保証として円を渡すことも了承した。日本は、一方的に恣意を通すことはできなくなっていたのである。他方、バ・モオ政府については、日本に正面から挑んでおり、傀儡政権という性格づけができないことが指摘できる。とはいえ、戦況が悪化して交通が途絶し、刷り上がった三〇億チャットの新券はビルマには届かなかった。

The aim of this paper is to consider the conflict between Japan and Burma over the Burma National Bank, which was the central bank of the Ba Maw administration. The Burma National Bank was founded as the central bank of the Ba Maw government in January, 1944. Japan intended to found such central banks in other occupied territories, so this study can reveal the Japanese vision for financial policy in those areas and thus may illustrate an important financial policy in general terms. In section 1, I examine the fluctuation of the Burmese non-military budget and military budget up to 1944 in order to show the proportion of each in the total budget. I demonstrate that the non-military budget was relatively small and point out that if the main role of the Burma National Bank were under the control of the Ba Maw's administration, Japan would have had little reason to oppose to establishment of the bank. However, if the issuance of the Southern Development Bank Notes (a kind of war note) was not sustained, this theory would have to be modified. In section 2, I examine the plan for the foundation of the Burma National Bank and financial condition of its operation after its launch. The Japanese policy had been generally consistent in trying to control the Burma National Bank by posting Japanese advisers prior to its establishment. However, the bank had few deposits, and the amount of tax deposited by the government was small. Eventually, the Southern Development Bank Notes became crucial to the management of the Burma National Bank. In section 3, I discuss the conflict between the Ba Maw administration that sought autonomy and Japan. The Burma National Bank planned to issue the Burma National Note by the first year after its establishment. When this note was issued, it was supposed to become the settlement currency for the military budget and Japanese companies in Burma instead of the Southern Development Bank Notes, which would be abolished. However, the enlargement of military expenditure made the plan impossible. The Japanese side changed the original plan in June, 1944 and the Southern Development Bank Note continued to be issued. The Ba Maw administration opposed this on the grounds of currency autonomy. Japan compromised with Burma and agreed to cease the issuance of the Southern Development Bank Notes and to fund the military budget by borrowing the Burma National Note with interest. Furthermore, Japan agreed to notify in advance the requisite monthly supply and to deposit Japanese yen as security. Japan no longer had sufficient authority to enforce arbitrary policies in occupied areas. The "counterattack of Asian countries against Japan" that has been indicated by other researchers can be seen to have occurred in Burma as well. The Ba Maw administration has often been described as trying to enhance the autonomy of Burma. This paper demonstrates that it vehemently opposed Japan and was never a puppet government under Japanese control. However, due to the disruption of transportation in the deteriorating war situation, the new bills of the National Note of 3 billion Kyat that were printed in Japan were never delivered to Burma.