Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)

Question 1

Background

Answer 1

• March 1946; final British attempt to settle differences
• 3 man delegation was sent (Stafford Cripps, A.V Alexander, Pethick Lawrence)
• They arrived 24th March 1946
• Met representatives, league, congress, Sikhs and Hindu Mahasabha

Question 2

Proposals

Answer 2

• Soon realized no common ground
• Jinnah insisted on Pakistan formation, only then would he consider setting up Cent. agency of Pakistan and India to tend to common subjects
• Congress was vehemently opposed to partition
• Mission decided another approach;
• Proposed setting up of Interim Govt. to rule while British withdrew
• Govt. would form All-India commission from members of the Provincial and Cent Legislatures
• It would then decide whether there would be one or two states after British
• None agreed to new plan but Mission continued

Question 3

Final Plan

Answer 3

• In May 1946, Mission announced final plan;
  1) Rejected creation of Pakistan

2) Instead there would be 3 parts after British;
i. Hindu Majority
ii. Western Muslim Majority
iii. Bengal and Assam

3) Each part would have local autonomy having power to draw own constitution
4) Foreign affairs, defense, and communication would be tended to by Cent. Indian Union

Question 4

Dropped

Answer 4

• League said it was ready to nominate members to interim cabinet
• Nehru said that congress would not feel bound to any British plan after they left
• League felt this made further discussion pointless
• Any agreement would be overturned by them after British
• It was dropped