Cripps Mission

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  • Proposals to seek Indian support for the war.
  • Stafford Cripps, left-wing Labourite, actively supported the Indian national movement.
Why Cripps Mission was Sent
  • Japanese threat to invade India
  • Pressure on Britain from the Allies (USA, USSR, China) to seek Indian cooperation.
  • Indian nationalists had agreed to support the Allied cause if substantial power was transferred immediately and complete independence given after the war.
Main Proposals
  1. Dominion status, free to decide its relations with the Commonwealth & free to participate in the United Nations and other international bodies.
  2. After the end of the war, a constituent assembly would be convened to frame a new constitution, partly elected by the provincial assemblies & partly nominated by the princes.
  3. Two conditions
    • Any province not willing to join the Union could have a separate constitution and form a separate Union.
    • new constitution making body and the British government would negotiate a treaty to effect the transfer of power and to safeguard racial and religious minorities.
  4. Defence of India would remain in British hands and the governor-general’s powers would remain intact.
Departures from the Past and Implications
  • Making of the constitution was to be solely in Indian hands now.
  • Plan was provided for the constituent assembly.
  • Option was available to any province to have a separate constitution - blueprint for India’s partition.
  • Free India could withdraw from the Commonwealth.
  • Indians were allowed a large share in the administration in the interim period
Reason for Cripps Mission Failed
  1. Offer of dominion status instead of a provision for complete independence;
  2. Representation of the princely states by nominees and not by elected representatives.
  3. Right to provinces to secede as this went against the principle of national unity.
  4. Absence of any plan for immediate transfer of power and absence of any real share in defence, governor-general’s supremacy had been retained demand that the governor-general be only the constitutional head had not been accepted.
Muslim League
  1. Criticised idea of a single Indian Union.
  2. Not like the machinery for creation of a constituent assembly & procedure to decide on the accession.
  3. Proposals denied the Muslims - Right to self-determination & creation of Pakistan.
Other Groups
  • Objected to "right to secede".
  • Mahasabha criticised the basis of the right to secede.
  • depressed classes thought that partition would leave them at the mercy of the caste Hindus.
  • Sikhs objected that partition would take away Punjab from them.
  • Procedure of accession was not well-defined.
  • legislature by a 60 per cent majority, less than 60 per cent of members supported.
  • Decision was to be taken by a plebiscite of adult males of that province by a simple majority.
  • Scheme weighed against the Hindus in Punjab and Bengal if they wanted accession to the Indian Union.
  • Talks broke down on the question of the viceroy’s veto.
  • Gandhi describe, "post-dated cheque".

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