Cripps Mission 1942

OUTLINE
1. Introduction
2. Background
3. Cripps Mission
4. Important terms of the Proposal
5. Why Cripps Mission was sent
6. Why Cripps Mission Failed
7. Reaction of Muslim League
8. Reaction of Congress
9. Significance
10. Criticism

Introduction

Cripps Mission was sent by the British Government in March 1942 to India with key objective to secure
Indian cooperation and support for British War Efforts. Headed by Sir Stafford Cripps, this mission
sought to negotiate an agreement with Indian leaders.

Background

After rejecting the August Offer, the Congress started the Civil Disobedience Movement but it failed to
achieve its objectives. The situation took a new turn on 11th March, 1942, when the British Prime
Minister Sir Winston Churchill announced that the British Government intended to send a mission to
India with Draft Declaration aimed at resolving the constitutional deadlock. As a result, on 24th March
1942, a mission led by Sir Stafford Cripps, the Lord Privy Seal and the leader of the House of Commons
arrived in India with a Draft Declaration which was published on 30th March, 1942.

Cripps Mission

The Britain Government appointed a delegation under the chairmanship of Sir Stafford Cripps, a
prominent member of the War Cabinet of England. The Cripps Mission reached New Delhi on March 23,
1942 to hold discussions with the Indian leaders. The Cripps Mission could not hold talks with the Indian
leaders and left after a fortnight. The Cripps Mission, however, submitted its own suggestions to the
Government in April 1942 for constitutional reforms.

Important terms of the Proposal

Important terms of the proposal were as follows:

1. A Constitution-making Body would be set up immediately after the war.

2. There would be provisions for the participation of Indian States in the Constitution-making Body.
3. If any province did not like to accept the new constitution, it could later retain its existing constitutional
position.
4. There would be provision in the constitution for the protection of racial and religious minorities.
5. The members of the Constitution-making Body were to be elected by an electoral college consisting of
the entire membership of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies.
6. His majesty’s Government would retain control of Defence during the critical period of the war.
7. The suggestions are to be accepted or rejected as a whole and there shall be no amendments.
8. The recommendations would be implemented only if both Muslim League and Congress accept them
unanimously.

Why Cripps Mission was sent

i. Because of the reverses suffered by Britain in South-East Asia, the Japanese threat to invade India
seemed real now ‘and Indian support became crucial.
ii. There was pressure on Britain from the Allies (USA, USSR, and China) to seek Indian
cooperation.
iii. Indian nationalists had agreed to support the Allied cause if substantial power was transferred
immediately and complete independence given after the war.

Why Cripps Mission Failed

The main reasons for failure of Cripps mission include:

(1) Its rejection by almost all political dispensations in the country
(2) Its proposals included no real transfer of power
(3) The Viceroy and Secretary of State worked behind the door to sabotage the mission etc.

Reaction of Muslim League

The scheme was opposed by the Muslim League because the proposals held out the prospects
of a single Union of India.

Reaction of Congress

The Congress rejected the Cripps’s proposals because he did not give assurance that the Governor
General would act as a constitutional head in case of all the departments except Defence. Moreover, the
Congress was opposed to the principle of non-accession of the provinces, because it virtually meant
acceptance of the idea of Pakistan.

Significance

Despite its shortcomings the Cripps Mission proposals were a definite advance in the context of overall
proposals so far made. These were significance in the following manner:
1. The British made their intention clear towards de-colonization of India.
2. British realized the significance of Muslim. India and as the conceded the possibility of secession of
provinces forms the centre by incorporating “escape clause”.
3. These were also significant in this context that these also gave implicit recognition to the demand of
Pakistan.

Criticism
Cripps proposals were criticized on the following account:

1. These were not clear and rather quite vague.

2. Though these provided escape clause yet these only talked about on centre.
3. The procedure from secession from centre was very complex and intricate.