The Cripps Mission to India, March-April 1942

Abstract

At the outbreak of the second world war the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935, relating to the provinces of British India had taken effect, elections had been held, and as a result there were Congress ministries in several provinces. But the conditions prescribed by the Act for parallel advance at the centre had not been fulfilled, with the result that the Viceroy remained at the head of government, responsible indeed through the Secretary of State for India to the British parliament, but not responsible to any Indian assembly. In September 1939 the Viceroy acted, therefore, in accord with the existing constitutional system in declaring, on instructions from London and without consulting with Indian political leaders, that India was at war though whether his action, even taking into account dominant British views at the time, was also in accord with the dictates of political wisdom is altogether more debatable. Certainly the commitment of India to war without reference to Indian leaders, not least by underlining the disparities in status between India and the dominions, so evidently free to decide whether or not to go to war, caused the deepest resentment, especially in Congress India. India unfree, rejoined the Congress, could not fight for freedom. In December 1939 the Congress provincial ministries resigned on the issue of nonco-operation in the war, while the Muslim League, rejoicing in their departure, moved on towards the so-called Pakistan resolution at Lahore in March