Cabinet Mission

• Members: Lord Pethick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, A.V. Alexander.

• The Cabinet Mission arrived in New Delhi on 24th March 1946.
• Aim: Was to bring about a settlement between the Muslims and the Congress
for the orderly transfer of power from British to Indian hands.

Proposals
• There was to be a federal union consisting of both British India and the Princely
States.
• The federal government was to have 3 subjects: defence, communication, and
external affairs. Foreign affairs and communication.
• It would have the power to raise the finances required for these subjects.
• All other subjects would be under the control of the provinces.
• The Princely States would retain all subjects and power other than those
surrendered to the Union.
• Grouping of provinces into three groups:
➢ Group A: Madras, Bihar, Bombay, UP, Central Provinces, Orissa.
➢ Group B: Punjab, Sindh, North West frontal province
➢ Group C: Assam and Bengal
Each group would be allowed to draft its own constituent term.

The Constituent Assembly

➢ It would have to consist of 389 members. The provinces would include
292 from the provinces, and the Princely States were allocated 93 seats.
➢ It recommended the formation of the interim government at the center.
➢ For the time being, the Viceroy’s Executive Council will consist of
representatives of all communities.
➢ The Federal Union would consist of 3 tiers - Central Union, Regional
Grouping of Provinces
➢ Each of the groups would frame its own constitution.
➢ Provincial Constitution - for the provinces
➢ Regional Constitution - for each group
➢ Union Constitution - for the entire country
➢ Each of the groups had the right to opt out of the Central Union
➢ Independent India was to decide whether it wanted to be a part of the
Common wealth or not
 ➢ It would be necessary to work out a treaty between the Indian
Constituent Assembly and the United Kingdom for matters arising out of
the transfer of power.
Reaction of the Congress
➢ It partly accepted the Plan because it preserved the unity of India
➢ It agreed to join the Constituent Assembly to frame the Indian
Constitution
➢ It rejected the scheme of the interim government because of the Muslim
League. Congress partially
➢ It was opposed to the League's claim that it had the sole authority to
nominate all the Muslim members of the Viceroy's executive council.
➢ Congress interpreted the grouping of states to be optional
➢ Congress viewed the constituent assembly to be a sovereign body, hence
not bound by the restrictions of the cabinet mission.
Reactions of the Muslim League
➢ It criticized the Plan because the creation of Pakistan was implicit, not
explicit
➢ Jinha interpreted the regional grouping of provinces as compulsory.
➢ It was alarmed at the prospect of the Constituent Assembly being
overwhelmed by the Congress in the matter of the majority.
➢ Muslim League demanded parity (equality) with the Congress in matters
of the seats
➢ Finally, they accepted the proposals in June 1946
➢ After the elections to the constituent assembly
➢ Muslim League withdrew support and resorted to direct action on 16th
August 1946.

Collapse of Communism: Poland

Poland
• A peaceful revolution marked the collapse of communism.
• In 1981, a trade union movement called Solidarity demanded a
referendum to demonstrate its popularity.
• The leader of Poland, General Jaruzelski, came down heavily on them.
• Under the Poland Marshall law, the army took over control, banned
Solidarity, and arrested thousands of activists.
• By Feb July 1988, the government was in firm control, and Jaruzelski
lifted the Marshall law and released Solidarity members.
• In 1988, when General Jaruzelski decided not to use force because he
knew there would be no backing from the USSR.
• He also realized he needed opposition support to deal with the
economic crisis. Talks opened between the communist government, the
Solidarity, and other opposition groups.
• By April 1989, constitutional changes were agreed upon in the
constitution.
• Solidarity became a political party.
• Parliament has 2 houses
➢ Senate (newly elected)
➢ Sejm (Lower House) 161 seats to be communists
• The House would elect the President.
• Sejm would elect the Prime Minister.
• In the election of June 1989, the Solidarity got overwhelming majority in
the Solidarity and the lower House.
• A compromise was worked out informing the govt.
• In the new govt, the President was in communists hand and Prime
Minister was in Solidarity
• In 1990 when the Communists realised they would be no backing from
USSR
• Jaruzelski decided not to oppose the opposition
• He agreed to deal with the opposition and formed a mixed government
of communist and Solidarity supporters
• After the collapse of Communism in the States joined better with
European States on the economic grounds solidarity and other grounds.
 Mountbatten Plan
➢ Lord Mountbatten assumed office as Viceroy on 24th March, 1947.
➢ He was convinced that transfer of power to Indians could only be on the
partition of the country.
➢ On 3rd June he announced his Plans.

Main Features / Proposals

➢ India would be partitioned and a new state of Pakistan would be created
along with free India.
➢ Pakistan would be formed with the Muslim Majority provinces of Sind,
Baluchistan, (NWFP) North West Frontier Province, West Punjab, East
Bengal. The Legislative Assemblies of Bengal and Punjab would decide
whether to join India or Pakistan.
➢ Indian dominion would be formed with the rest of British India with
West Bengal and East Punjab and West Bengal.
➢ The plan also declared that the transfer of power would take place much
earlier than June, 1948.
➢ The existing Constituent Assembly would continue to work to frame a
constitution for India.
Reasons why Congress agreed to the proposal for the partition of India
➢ Refusal of the demand for partition of Pakistan would amount to dividing
the country into so many Pakistan
➢ Large-scale communal ride direct action day has engulfed the whole
country
➢ The league head joined the interim government to obstruct and not to
cooperate
➢ A smaller India with a strong Central authority was better than a bigger
state with a weak centre
➢ Partition was the price for immediate independence
➢ There was a threat of civil war
➢ The leaders felt that partition would rid the constitution of separate
electorates and other under democratic procedure
Provisions of the Indian Independence Act
➢ The Indian Independence Bill was passed by the British Parliament on
July 15, 1947.
➢ Two Dominions, known as India and Pakistan, were to be set up from
15th August 1947.
➢ The territories of the two Dominions were defined clearly.
➢ Pakistan comprises Sindh, Baluchistan, NWFP, the West Punjab and East
Bengal.
➢ India was to comprise all the remaining territories included in British
India.
➢ For each of the new Dominions, there was to be a Governor General.
➢ The Legislature of each of these Dominions would have the power to
make laws for itself.
➢ The jurisdiction of the British Parliament over India would cease from
that day.
➢ With effect from 15th August 1947, His Majesty’s Government would
cease to have any responsibility for the government of British India.
➢ The Constituent Assembly of each Dominion would exercise the powers
of the Central legislature.
➢ The existing Central Legislative Assembly and the Council of State would
be automatically dissolved.
➢ The Governor General had the powers to make the Independence Act
operational.
➢ Provisions were made to safeguard the interests of the existing officers in
India appointed by the Secretary of State.
➢ Provision was made for the division of the Indian Army.
➢ All powers and authority exercisable by His Majesty in relation to the
Princely States were terminated.
➢ The States thus became independent.
➢ The office of the Secretary of State for India was to be abolished.
➢ Each separate Constituent Assembly would frame their own constitution.
➢ Provisions were made for the sharing of assets and liabilities between
the two dominions.