Cripps' mission
Encyclopedia
The Cripps mission was an attempt in late March 1942 by the British government to secure Indian cooperation and support for their efforts in World War II
. The mission was headed by Sir Stafford Cripps, a senior left-wing politician and government minister in the War Cabinet of Prime Minister Winston Churchill
.
without consulting Indian political leaders or the elected provincial representatives. This caused considerable resentment in India and provoked the resignation en masse of elected Congress Party
Provincial Governments, giving rise to the prospect of public revolt and political disorder in India. The British feared the destabilizing of India which could be fatal to discouraging further advances in Asia by the Japanese, as well as detrimental to obtaining much-needed resources and manpower to fight the war in Europe.
After December 1941 the situation for Britain in Asia became critical with the entry of Japan into the war, and the rapid Japanese conquest of Malaya and the military bastion of Singapore, plus the Dutch East Indies. Japanese invasions of Burma and India seemed next. The British government wanted the cooperation and support of Indian political leaders in order to recruit more Indians into the British Indian Army
, which was fighting in the Middle East theatre, and which expanded to over 2½ million men, the largest volunteer army in history.
. Angry over the decision made by the Viceroy of India, some Congress leaders favoured launching a popular revolt against the British despite the gravity of the war in Europe, which threatened Britain's own freedom. Others, such as Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, advocated offering an olive branch to the British — supporting them in this crucial time in hope that the gesture would be reciprocated with independence after the war. India's and Congress' major leader, Mohandas Gandhi, was opposed to Indian involvement in the war as he would not morally endorse a war — he also suspected British intentions, believing that the British were not sincere about Indian aspirations for freedom. But Rajagopalachari, backed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
, Maulana Azad and Jawaharlal Nehru
held talks with Cripps and offered full support in return for immediate self-government, and eventual independence.
The leader of the Muslim League, Muhammad Ali Jinnah
, supported the war effort and condemned the Congress policy. Insisting on a separate Muslim state
, he resisted Congress calls for pan-Indian cooperation and immediate independence.
Upon his arrival in India, Cripps held talks with Indian leaders. There is some confusion over what Cripps had been authorised to offer India's nationalist politicians by Churchill and Leo Amery (His Majesty's Secretary of State for India
), and he also faced hostility from the Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow
. He began by offering India full Dominion
status at the end of the war, with the chance to secede from the Commonwealth
and go for total independence. Privately, Cripps also promised to get rid of Linlithgow and grant India Dominion Status with immediate effect, reserving only the Defence Ministry for the British. However, in public he failed to present any concrete proposals for greater self-government in the short-term, other than a vague commitment to increase the number of Indian members of the Viceroy's Executive Council
. Cripps spent much of his time in encouraging Congress leaders and Jinnah to come to a common, public arrangement in support of the war and government.
There was little trust between the British and Congress by this stage, and both sides felt that the other was concealing its true plans. The Congress stopped talks with Cripps and, guided by Mohandas Gandhi, the national leadership demanded immediate self-government in return for war support. Gandhi said that Cripp's offer of Dominion status after the war was a "Post dated cheque drawn on a crashing bank".
When the British remained unresponsive, Gandhi and the Congress began planning a major public revolt, the Quit India movement
, which demanded immediate British withdrawal from India. As the Imperial Japanese Army
advanced closer to India with the conquest of Burma, Indians perceived an inability upon the part of the British to defend Indian soil. This period concurred with the rise of the Indian National Army
, led by Subhas Chandra Bose. The British response to the Quit India movement was to throw most of the Congress leadership in jail.
Jinnah's Muslim League condemned the Quit India movement, participating in provincial governments as well as the legislative councils of the British Raj
, and encouraging Muslims to participate in the war. With this limited cooperation from the Muslim League, the British were able to continue administering India for the duration of the war using officials and military personnel where Indian politicians could not be found. This would not prove to be feasible in the long-term, however.
The long-term significance of the Cripps Mission only really became apparent in the aftermath of the war, as troops were demobilised and sent back home. Even Churchill recognised that there could be no retraction of the offer of Independence which Cripps had made, although by the end of the war Churchill was out of power and could only watch as the new Labour government gave India independence. This confidence that the British would soon leave was reflected in the readiness with which Congress politicians stood in the elections of 1945–6 and formed provincial governments. In retrospect, this unsuccessful and badly-planned attempt to placate the Congress in return for temporary wartime support was the point at which the British departure from India became inevitable.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The mission was headed by Sir Stafford Cripps, a senior left-wing politician and government minister in the War Cabinet of Prime Minister Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
.
Background
In 1939 the Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, declared India a belligerent state on the side of the AlliesAllies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
without consulting Indian political leaders or the elected provincial representatives. This caused considerable resentment in India and provoked the resignation en masse of elected Congress Party
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
Provincial Governments, giving rise to the prospect of public revolt and political disorder in India. The British feared the destabilizing of India which could be fatal to discouraging further advances in Asia by the Japanese, as well as detrimental to obtaining much-needed resources and manpower to fight the war in Europe.
After December 1941 the situation for Britain in Asia became critical with the entry of Japan into the war, and the rapid Japanese conquest of Malaya and the military bastion of Singapore, plus the Dutch East Indies. Japanese invasions of Burma and India seemed next. The British government wanted the cooperation and support of Indian political leaders in order to recruit more Indians into the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
, which was fighting in the Middle East theatre, and which expanded to over 2½ million men, the largest volunteer army in history.
Debate over cooperation or protest
The Congress was divided upon its response to India's entry into World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Angry over the decision made by the Viceroy of India, some Congress leaders favoured launching a popular revolt against the British despite the gravity of the war in Europe, which threatened Britain's own freedom. Others, such as Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, advocated offering an olive branch to the British — supporting them in this crucial time in hope that the gesture would be reciprocated with independence after the war. India's and Congress' major leader, Mohandas Gandhi, was opposed to Indian involvement in the war as he would not morally endorse a war — he also suspected British intentions, believing that the British were not sincere about Indian aspirations for freedom. But Rajagopalachari, backed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel was an Indian barrister and statesman, one of the leaders of the Indian National Congress and one of the founding fathers of India...
, Maulana Azad and Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
held talks with Cripps and offered full support in return for immediate self-government, and eventual independence.
The leader of the Muslim League, Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a Muslim lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. He is popularly and officially known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam and Baba-e-Qaum ....
, supported the war effort and condemned the Congress policy. Insisting on a separate Muslim state
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, he resisted Congress calls for pan-Indian cooperation and immediate independence.
Failure of the mission
Secretary of State for India
The Secretary of State for India, or India Secretary, was the British Cabinet minister responsible for the government of India and the political head of the India Office...
), and he also faced hostility from the Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow
Victor Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow
Victor Alexander John Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow KG, KT, GCSI, GCIE, OBE, PC was a British statesman who served as Governor-General and Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1943.-Early life and family:...
. He began by offering India full Dominion
Dominion
A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the latter part of the 19th century. They have included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland,...
status at the end of the war, with the chance to secede from the Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
and go for total independence. Privately, Cripps also promised to get rid of Linlithgow and grant India Dominion Status with immediate effect, reserving only the Defence Ministry for the British. However, in public he failed to present any concrete proposals for greater self-government in the short-term, other than a vague commitment to increase the number of Indian members of the Viceroy's Executive Council
Viceroy's Executive Council
The Viceroy's Executive Council was the cabinet of the government of British India headed by the Viceroy of India. It was transformed from an advisory council into a cabinet run by the portfolio system by the Indian Councils Act 1861.-Indians in the Council:...
. Cripps spent much of his time in encouraging Congress leaders and Jinnah to come to a common, public arrangement in support of the war and government.
There was little trust between the British and Congress by this stage, and both sides felt that the other was concealing its true plans. The Congress stopped talks with Cripps and, guided by Mohandas Gandhi, the national leadership demanded immediate self-government in return for war support. Gandhi said that Cripp's offer of Dominion status after the war was a "Post dated cheque drawn on a crashing bank".
When the British remained unresponsive, Gandhi and the Congress began planning a major public revolt, the Quit India movement
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement , or the August Movement was a civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for immediate independence. Gandhi hoped to bring the British government to the negotiating table...
, which demanded immediate British withdrawal from India. As the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
advanced closer to India with the conquest of Burma, Indians perceived an inability upon the part of the British to defend Indian soil. This period concurred with the rise of the Indian National Army
Indian National Army
The Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance...
, led by Subhas Chandra Bose. The British response to the Quit India movement was to throw most of the Congress leadership in jail.
Jinnah's Muslim League condemned the Quit India movement, participating in provincial governments as well as the legislative councils of the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, and encouraging Muslims to participate in the war. With this limited cooperation from the Muslim League, the British were able to continue administering India for the duration of the war using officials and military personnel where Indian politicians could not be found. This would not prove to be feasible in the long-term, however.
The long-term significance of the Cripps Mission only really became apparent in the aftermath of the war, as troops were demobilised and sent back home. Even Churchill recognised that there could be no retraction of the offer of Independence which Cripps had made, although by the end of the war Churchill was out of power and could only watch as the new Labour government gave India independence. This confidence that the British would soon leave was reflected in the readiness with which Congress politicians stood in the elections of 1945–6 and formed provincial governments. In retrospect, this unsuccessful and badly-planned attempt to placate the Congress in return for temporary wartime support was the point at which the British departure from India became inevitable.
Further reading
- Winston S. ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, The Second World WarThe Second World War (Churchill)The Second World War is a history, originally published in six volumes, of the period from the end of the First World War to July 1945, written by Winston Churchill. It was largely responsible for his being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953...
: Volume IV, The Hinge of Fate, [ CassellOrion Publishing GroupOrion Publishing Group Ltd. is a UK-based book publisher. It is owned by Hachette Livre. In 1998 Orion bought Cassell.-History:Full history of the group can be found on Orion Publishing Group is owned by -Imprints:...
, London, England, 1951 and Houghton MifflinHoughton MifflinHoughton Mifflin Harcourt is an educational and trade publisher in the United States. Headquartered in Boston's Back Bay, it publishes textbooks, instructional technology materials, assessments, reference works, and fiction and non-fiction for both young readers and adults.-History:The company was...
, Boston, Massachusetts, 1950, 1986: ISBN 978-0-39-541058-5; also Bantam BooksBantam BooksBantam Books is an American publishing house owned entirely by Random House, the German media corporation subsidiary of Bertelsmann; it is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. It was formed in 1945 by Walter B. Pitkin, Jr., Sidney B. Kramer, and Ian and Betty Ballantine...
, New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, 1962 and Penguin BooksPenguin BooksPenguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
, London, England, 2005: ISBN 0141441755 (pbk.) ], Book One, Chapter 12, "India—The Cripps Mission"; limited preview of the whole chapter at Google Books