Discuss the composition, objectives, plan, and failure of Cabinet Mission.

COMPOSITION:

It was composed of three Cabinet Ministers of England - Lord Pethick-Lawrence, the Secretary of State for India, Sir Stafford Cripps, President of the Board of Trade, and A. V. Alexander, the First Lord of the Admiralty.

OBJECTIVES:

Cabinet Mission of 1946 was sent to India to discuss the transfer of power form the British government to Indian leaders. Its purposes can be enumerated as below:

1. Secure agreement on framing of the Constitution.

2. To preserve the unity and resolve the deadlock between the Congress and the Muslim League.

3. Make arrangements for interim government.

PLAN:

1. It proposed a dominion status to India.

2. Turned down Muslim League’s demand for Pakistan and recommended united India.

3. Formation of Interim Government at the centre, whose members would be only Indians enjoying the support of major political parties.

4. The Centre would merely have control on defence, the Foreign Affairs and the Communication.

5. All subjects other than Union subjects and residuary power would vest in the provinces of British India.

6. It divided the country into three groups:

a. First group - Punjab, North-West Frontier Province, Sind, and Baluchistan.

b. Second group - Bengal and Assam.

c. Third group - the rest of the Provinces.

FAILURE:

The Congress was not happy with the formation of a weak Centre and the division of states. The Muslim league first approved the plan. However, when Congress declared that it could change the scheme through its majority in the Constituent Assembly, it withdrew its acceptance.