Cripps Mission (1942): Proposals, Failure, and Significance

Cripps Mission of 1942 was a failed attempt by the British to gain Indian support for World War II. It offered constitutional proposals, including dominion status after the war and provincial opt-out rights, to appease Indian nationalism. 

Major parties like the Congress and the Muslim League rejected the proposals as vague and unsatisfactory. Its failure intensified demands for complete independence and led to the Quit India Movement. The mission exposed the limits of British negotiations. It remains a key moment in India’s struggle for freedom during World War II.

Cripps Mission Background

The Cripps Mission was dispatched to India in March 1942, led by Sir Stafford Cripps, a prominent left-wing Labour member of the British War Cabinet and an advocate for the Indian national movement. Several factors compelled Prime Minister Winston Churchill to send this mission:

The Threat of Japanese Invasion

The British forces suffered severe losses in South-East Asia as Japan rapidly advanced. The fall of Singapore in February 1942 and Rangoon in March 1942 exposed India to a direct threat of Japanese invasion, making Indian cooperation in the war effort indispensable for the British.

International Pressure from Allied Powers

Britain faced mounting pressure from its allies, notably the United States (US), the Soviet Union (USSR), and China, to resolve the political deadlock in India and gain the voluntary participation of the Indian people in the Allied cause against the Axis powers.

Failure of Past Offers

The earlier August Offer (1940) had failed to satisfy Indian demands, leading to the launch of the Individual Satyagraha. The British realised a more concrete and attractive offer was needed to break the stalemate.

Proposals of the Cripps Mission (1942)

The Draft Declaration presented by the Cripps Mission essentially contained a long-term promise for India's constitutional future, to be implemented after the conclusion of World War II.

Post-War Constitutional Provisions

The main provisions offered for the post-war period were:

• Dominion Status: India would be granted Dominion Status (self-governance), making it an Indian Union associated with the British Commonwealth. Importantly, India would have the freedom to decide its relationship with the Commonwealth and even secede from it.

• Constituent Assembly Formation: A Constitution-making body would be set up after the war.

• Its members would be partly elected by the provincial assemblies (through proportional representation) and partly nominated by the rulers of the Princely States.

• Right to Secede (Option for Partition): Any province that was unwilling to accept the new constitution would have the right to opt out of the proposed Indian Union. Such provinces could form a separate Union with its own constitution, which the British Government would accept. This proposal contained the clear blueprint for the future partition of India.

• Treaty with Britain: A treaty would be negotiated between the British Government and the Constituent Assembly to manage the transfer of power and safeguard the rights of minorities.

Provisions for the Interim Period

The mission’s declaration regarding the immediate future was:

• During the war, the British would retain their complete control over India's defence, and the powers of the Governor-General (Viceroy) would remain unaltered.

• The British government would encourage the formation of an interim government comprising different Indian parties, but with no real transfer of power in key areas like Defence.

Reasons for the Failure of the Cripps Mission

The Cripps Mission failed because its proposals were rejected by almost all major Indian political groups, including the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Muslim League.

Rejection by the Indian National Congress

The Congress rejected the proposals for fundamental reasons, primarily focusing on immediate political power and national unity:

• Demand for Complete Independence: The offer of Dominion Status was unacceptable. Congress demanded complete and immediate independence (Purna Swaraj), not a post-war promise.

• No Immediate Transfer of Power: There was no concrete plan for the immediate transfer of effective power. Crucially, the British insistence on controlling Defence during the interim period was seen as an unacceptable retention of British supremacy.

• Objection to Provincial Secession: The provision allowing provinces to opt out of the Union was viewed as a dangerous endorsement of the principle of partition, compromising national unity.

• "Post-Dated Cheque": Mahatma Gandhi famously described the Cripps proposal as a "post-dated cheque drawn on a failing bank," reflecting his lack of faith in the British promises given their wartime setbacks.

Rejection by the Muslim League

The Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, also rejected the proposals, though for reasons opposite to those of the Congress:

• No Explicit Guarantee of Pakistan: The League opposed the idea of a single Indian Union and was disappointed that the proposals did not explicitly provide for the creation of a separate state of Pakistan.

• Disagreement on Constituent Assembly: The League did not like the procedure for the Constituent Assembly, fearing that Muslims would be a minority in the decision-making body.

Significance of the Cripps Mission

Despite its failure, the Cripps Mission holds immense significance in the history of the Indian national movement:

• Acknowledgement of Dominion Right: It was the first time the British Government explicitly and publicly acknowledged India's right to become a Dominion and to frame its own constitution.

• Blueprint for Partition: The provision allowing provinces to secede became the first official indication and blueprint for the eventual partition of India.

• Catalyst for the Quit India Movement: The failure of the mission, coupled with the British's rigid "take it or leave it" attitude, deeply frustrated the Indian leadership. This disappointment paved the way for Mahatma Gandhi to launch the Quit India Movement in August 1942, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the British.