of the war. Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō promised that independence for Burma would be granted within a year from 28 January 1943, with the condition that Burma declare war on the United Kingdom and the United States. The Japanese government felt that this would give the Burmese a real stake in an Axis victory in the Second World War, creating resistance against possible re-colonization by the western powers, and increased military and economic support from Burma for the Japanese war effort. A Burma Independence Preparatory Committee chaired by Ba Maw was formed 8 May 1943 with a wide variety of respected members. On 1 August 1943, Burma was proclaimed the independent State of Burma and the Japanese military government for Burma was officially dissolved. The new state quickly declared war on the United Kingdom and the United States and concluded a Treaty of Alliance with Japan. Ba Maw became "Naingandaw Adipadi" (head of state) of Burma under the new constitution, with wide powers. Government of the State of Burma The first cabinet of the State of Burma consisted of: Ba Maw, Prime Minister (in addition to his post as head of state) General Aung San, Deputy Prime Minister Ba Win, Minister of Home Affairs Thakin Nu, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Thein Maung, Minister of Finance (later replaced by U Set after he was appointed to be Burman ambassador to Japan) General Aung San, Minister of Defence Thein Maung, Minister of Justice Hla Min, Minister of Education and Health Thakin Than Tun, Minister of Agriculture (later became Minister of Transport) U Mya, Minister of Commerce and Industry Thakin Lay Maung, Minister of Communications and Irrigation Bandula U Sein, Minister of Welfare and Publicity Tun Aung, Minister of Co-Operation with Japan Thakin Lun Baw, Public Works Recovery Minister On 25 September 1943, as promised, Japan ceded all of the Shan states to Burma except for the part east of the Salween River i.e. Kengtung and Mongpan, which had already been given to Thailand. Ba Maw attended the Greater East Asia Conference in Tokyo from 5–6 November 1943. Though now nominally independent, the power of the State of Burma to exercise its sovereignty was largely circumscribed by wartime agreements with Japan. The Imperial Japanese Army maintained a large presence and continued to act arbitrarily, despite Japan no longer having official control over Burma. During 1943 and 1944, the Burma National Army