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governmentdispatchedSirStaffordCripps,thenLordPrivySeal,toIndiawithproposalsdesignedto
satisfynationalistdemands.TheseproposalscontainedthepromiseoffullindependenceforIndiaafter
theendofthewarandcalledfortheestablishmentofaninterimIndiangovernmentresponsibleforall
mattersexceptnationaldefenceandforeignaffairs.BecausetheleadersofboththeIndianNational
CongressandtheMuslimLeaguehadbasicobjectionstovarioussectionsoftheproposals,theCripps
missionendedinfailure.
ThecivildisobediencemovementwasresumedinAugust1942.Gandhi,Nehru,andthousandsoftheir
supporterswereroundedupandimprisoned,andtheIndianNationalCongresswasoutlawed.
EncouragedbyIndiandisunityandwiththehelpoftheextremenationalist,andformerCongress
president,SubhasChandhraBose,whohadorganizedaprovisionalIndiangovernmentinBurma,
theJapanesepromptlyintensifiedmilitaryoperationsalongtheBurmese-Indianfrontier.TheJapanese
invasionofIndiabeganalonga322-km(200-mi)frontinMarch1944.Afterinitialsuccesses,the
JapaneseweregraduallyforcedbackintoBurmabyAnglo-Indiantroops.
TheBritishgovernmentreleasedGandhifromjailonMay6,1944.DuringhisinternmentGandhihad
modifiedmostofhisviewsregardingthenatureofthewarandtheCrippsprogramme,andin
September1944heandtheMuslimleaderJinnahbegandiscussionsonmutualdifferences.Primarily
becauseofJinnahsinsistenceonthedemarcationofthefrontiersofPakistanpriortotheformationof
aninterimgovernment,thediscussionsendedinfailure.
InterimGovernment
InJune1945IndiabecameachartermemberoftheUN.InthesamemonthNehruwasreleasedfrom
jail,andshortlythereaftertheBritishgovernmentissuedawhitepaperontheIndianquestion.The
proposalscloselyresembledthoseoftheCrippsprogramme.Anotherdeadlockdevelopedandduring
thesecondhalfof1945anewwaveofanti-BritishriotsanddemonstrationssweptIndia.Three
representativesoftheBritishgovernment,includingCripps,madeanotherattempttonegotiatean
agreementwithIndianleadersinthespringof1946.AlthoughtheMuslimLeaguetemporarily
withdrewitsdemandsforthepartitionofIndiaalongreligiouslines,andacceptedtheplanfora
confederalunitedIndia,insuperabledifferencesdevelopedwithrespecttothecharacterofaninterim
government.TheCongresswasalsounhappywiththedecentralizedproposalsbytheCabinetMission
Plan.Thenegotiationswerefruitless,andinJunetheBritishviceroyArchibaldWavellannouncedthe
formationofanemergencycaretakergovernment.Aninterimexecutivecouncil,headedbyNehru
andincludingrepresentativesofallmajorpoliticalgroupsexcepttheMuslimLeague,replacedthis
governmentinSeptember.Thefollowingmonth,theMuslimLeagueagreedtoparticipateinthenew
government.Nonetheless,communalstrifebetweenMuslimsandHindusincreasedinvariouspartsof
India.
Bytheendof1946theIndianpoliticalsituationvergedonanarchy.TheBritishprimeminister
ClementR.AttleeannouncedinFebruary1947thathisgovernmentwouldrelinquishpowerinIndia
notlaterthanJune30,1948.Accordingtotheannouncement,themovewouldbemadewhetheror
notthepoliticalfactionsofIndiahadagreedonaconstitution.PoliticaltensionmountedinIndia
followingtheannouncement,creatinggravepossibilitiesofadisastrousHindu-Muslimcivilwar.After
consultationswithIndianleaders,LouisMountbatten,whosucceededWavellasViceroyinMarch