Explore the Cripps Mission of 1942, including its historical context, main proposals, departures from previous British policies, reasons for its failure, and key views on the mission's impact.
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Cripps Mission
Context and Reason for the Mission
Why Cripps Mission was Sent:
Britain faced reverses in South-East Asia, making the Japanese threat to invade India seem real.
Pressure from Allies (USA, USSR, China) to seek Indian cooperation.
Indian nationalists agreed to support the Allies if substantial power was transferred immediately and complete independence was given after the war.
Main Proposals of the Mission
Proposals:
An Indian Union with dominion status to be set up, free to decide its relations with the Commonwealth and participate in international bodies.
A constituent assembly to be convened after the war to frame a new constitution, with members partly elected and partly nominated by princes.
The new constitution would be accepted by the British subject to:
Any province not willing to join the Union could have a separate constitution and form a separate Union.
The constitution-making body and British government would negotiate a treaty for power transfer and safeguard minorities.
Defence of India to remain in British hands and governor-general’s powers to remain intact.
Departures from the Past and Implications
Differences and Implications:
The constitution was to be solely in Indian hands, with a concrete plan for the constituent assembly.
Provinces could have a separate constitution, implying a blueprint for India’s partition.
Free India could withdraw from the Commonwealth.
Indians were given a larger share in interim administration.
Reasons for Failure
Reasons for Failure:
The Congress objected to:
Dominion status instead of complete independence.
Representation of princely states by nominees, not elected representatives.
Right of provinces to secede, which went against national unity.
Absence of immediate power transfer and share in defence; the governor-general’s powers remained unchanged.
The Muslim League criticized:
The idea of a single Indian Union.
The machinery for creating a constituent assembly and deciding province accession.
The proposals denied Muslims the right to self-determination and creation of Pakistan.
Other groups had concerns:
Secession proposals were against unity and security of India (Liberals).
Partition could leave depressed classes at the mercy of caste Hindus (Depressed Classes).
Partition would take away Punjab from Sikhs.
The proposals seemed like propaganda rather than genuine negotiation, and Cripps’ rigid “take it or leave it” attitude added to the deadlock.
Cripps’ statements were inconsistent, and the procedure for accession was unclear.
Views
Winston Churchill: “I have not become His Majesty’s first Minister to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire.”
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: “The offer of Cripps really gave us nothing. If we accepted his offer, we might have cause to rue it in future. In case the British went back on their word, we should not even have the justification for launching a fresh struggle. War had given India an opportunity for achieving her freedom. We must not lose it by depending upon a mere promise.”
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