The 3rd June Plan (1947)

Question 1

Background

Answer 1

• February Attlee announced, British would leave no later than June 1948
• It would by divided by that time
• He feared if more time was afforded, there would only be more disagreements

Question 2

Lord Mountbatten

Answer 2

• Attlee sent Lord Mountbatten to work out a plan for the Power Transfer
• And to Replace Wavell
• In March 1947, there were riots and killings between Hindus and Muslims in Punjab and the trouble spread
• He arrived in March
• He had meetings with different groups, and tried to unite them on common grounds but failed and was dismayed
• His meetings convinced him partition was inevitable
• He then announced the 3rd June Plan

Question 3

3rd June Plan

Answer 3

• On that date he announced;
• Two states; India and Pakistan would be set up, their interim constitution would be the Govt. of India Act
• Each state would have Dominion status, and an executive responsible to a Constituent Assembly
• Muslim Majority Provinces would vote either to stay in India or join Pakistan
• Sindh, Baluchistan, Bengal and Punjab (excluding Muslim minority areas), NWFP, and Sylhet in Assam all joined Pakistan
• In August 1947 the Subcontinent would be divided
• Mountbatten announced a day later, final Power Transfer would be brought forth from June 1948 to August 1947

Question 4

• Problems Involved In Partition

Answer 4

• Mountbatten announced a day later, final Power Transfer would be brought forth from June 1948 to August 1947
• There were only 7 weeks to deal with Partition Problems;
  1) Need to draw boundaries b/w Muslim and Non-Muslim areas, particularly in Punjab and Bengal
  2) The issue of Princes had to be solved
  3) The Division of Assets was undecided
  4) Pakistan’s relationship with Britain had to be resolved; Mountbatten was to be India’s G.G, but Jinnah was to act as Pakistan’s first