Second World War/Lahore Resolution (20) Flashcards
What happened on the 3rd September 1939?
PM Neville Chamberlain declared war on Nazi Germany and Lord Linlithgow (Viceroy) followed suit, committing over 300 million Indians to war without consulting them.
How did Congress react to the declaration of war?
They felt that power-sharing between the Raj and India that had been implemented by the Gov of India Act (1935) had been disregarded and that Linlithgow was demonstrating that Britain still considered itself the master of India.
Gandhi urged negotiation with Hitler but when hostilities commenced he gave his wholehearted support to the British people.
How did Congress members such as Nehru and other Socialists react to the Second World War?
They sympathised with the British approach to Fascism, but weren’t prepared to openly commit themselves to support a government that hadn’t consulted them regarding the declaration of war and weren’t prepared to fight unless they were granted immediate swaraj.
What did Congress do to dissociate India from the war and enforce Congress determination to free India from foreign domination?
Withdrew Ministries from the provinces where Congress had a majority.
What did Congress do when their demands for swaraj fell on deaf ears in Britain (due to other preoccupations - the war)?
Congress’ leaders ordered all Congress members to resign from provincial ministries throughout India. This wasn’t a particularly sensible thing to do, since it removed hundreds of Indians from official positions where they could soften the effects of war for their people and to a certain extent influence internal events. India’s provinces reverted to a form of direct British government, which hadn’t been known since 1919.
How did the Muslim League react to Congress’ resignation of their provincial seats?
Since Congress had virtually retired from the political scene, the League could now strengthen their position, so they worked with the Raj and the British government to support the war effort and strengthen their own position in India.
What did Jinnah do in March 1940?
Called meeting of the All-Indian Muslim League in Lahore, which was attended by approximately 100,000 Indians. The purpose of the meeting was to take advantage of no longer having to cope with Congress and formulate constitutional goals for Muslims.
What did the Lahore Resolution demand?
Didn’t necessarily push for a separate state, but certainly a form of autonomy to protect Indians in the North West and Bengal.
How did Congress react to the Lahore Resolution?
Gandhi maintained that the Lahore Declaration would split India and appealed to the common sense of Muslims to disagree with the obvious, damning ramifications that Partition would bring.
Mini-satyagraha’s broke out and the perpetrators were jailed.
Nehru denounced the idea of Pakistan and toured India trying to strengthen the will of Congress supporters.
Congress was suffering from a self-inflicted wound, as the withdrawal of congressmen from positions of authority and influence in the provinces had completely weakened their hand politically.
What was the external threats to India in WW2?
Japan had conquered various parts of Asia, e.g. Thailand, Singapore, Indo China etc and Japan had declared their aim of freeing Asians from European rule. India looked set to be next to be conquered by Japan and Viceroy Linlithgow confessed that there weren’t sufficient armed forces in India to defend against a Japanese landing. His only suggestion was a scorched earth policy in the event of an invasion through Bengal.
How did the Muslim League handle the war?
The Lahore Resolution of 1940 had concluded in favour of a separation of Muslim and Hindus after the war. Throughout the war years, Jinnah proved to be a clever operator, illustrating himself and the League as willing to co-operate with or support the Raj, but without making firm commitments. In doing so, he demonstrated the contrast between the League and Congress, providing the Raj with ample reasons to prefer to negotiate with the League.
What happened in May 1940?
Linlithgow invited Jinnah to Simla, with the aim of discussing a whole range of issues relating to India and the war with him. Two months later, Jinnah submitted a list of tentative proposals to Linlithgow, which were welcomed and formed the basis of the August Offer.
What proposals were made in the August Offer?
‘representative’ Indians would join his Executive Council
a War Advisory Council would be established, which would include the princes and ‘other interest in the national life of India as a whole’
An assurance that the government wouldn’t adopt any new constitution without the prior approval of Muslim India.
What message did Linlithgow make clear in the August Offer?
He accompanied the offer with a statement that appeared to place the Muslim League at the centre of any decision making about the future of India and made it clear that the wishes and needs of Muslims would be taken into account in any post-war settlement.
How did the vital role that the Muslims had played in the Indian army at home and abroad impact on the British perception of Congress?
Congress was viewed as obstructive and was only concerned with their own aims and didn’t speak for the whole of India. The problem for Britain was now not so much whether power should be transferred, but to who?
