Page 106 - GANDHI A Biography for Children and Beginners

GANDHI – A Biography for children and beginners

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Tables had turned in the War. Hitler and Mussolini were on the verge of defeat.

The Japanese Armies had been pushed back, and many countries in the East

liberated. A new Viceroy had come to India, Lord Wavell. He wanted to find a
way out of the deadlock in India. The leaders of the Congress or the members

of the Working Committee were released. As the first step he wanted to

reconstitute his Executive Council and include leaders of the people. He
convened a Conference at Simla, and put forward his proposals. The Congress

and the Muslim League under Jinnah participated in the Conference. But Lord

Wavell's efforts failed when Jinnah insisted that the Muslims should have as

many members in the Executive Council as the 'Caste Hindus' had, and the
Muslim League should have the sole right to nominate Muslims for inclusion in

the Executive Council. The Congress could not accept either of these demands

without giving up its claim to be a national organisation representing all

communities. The Conference failed.

In the meanwhile, the war ended in Europe, and elections were held in Great

Britain. Churchill and the Conservatives were defeated, and the Labour party
came to power. Labour had sympathy for the Indian cause. In March 1946, the

new Prime Minister Clement Attlee decided to send a Cabinet Mission to India.

It consisted of three of his eminent colleagues. Two of them, Lord Pethick

Lawrence and Sir Stafford Cripps were known to Gandhi, and were known as
friends of India and Indian leaders.

The Mission held discussions with the leaders of the Congress and the Muslim

League and many other public figures. They took counsel with Gandhi too.
When they failed to find a consensus, they presented a proposal of their own.

The Constitution would have three tiers. The Union of India at the top would

have control of foreign affairs, defence and communications. The rest of the
powers would vest in the States. There would be three sections of States, each

of which would decide whether they should function as a group and if so, what

subjects should be delegated to the government at the group level. The

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