1. By: Saif Khalid khan Kakar
Lecturer (Civics/Pol. Sci)
Pakistan Education Center
2. BACKGROUND
on 19th Feb 1946, P.M Clement Attlee made a statement in
House of commons.
A special mission of Cabinet Ministers consisting of Lord
Patrick Lawrence (Secretary of State of India), Sir Stafford
Cripps (President Board of trade) and A.V Alexander (Lord of
Admiralty) will be set to India and will be associated with
Viceroy.
Their aim will be:
1. Hold Discussions with elected representatives and states
regarding formulation of constituent assembly.
2. Setting up a constituent assembly.
3. Establishing an Executive council having support of major
political parties.
3. Introduction
on 24th March 1946, Mission reached India.
from 3rd to 27th April, Held Talks with Political leaders.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad made argument that
congress was in favor of united India with autonomous
provinces.
Gandhi Made argument that C.R formula could be
made the basis of negotiation with Muslim league.
Mr. Jinnah was adamant that partition was the only
constitutional solution for the problem.
on 16th April, Mission gave Mr. Jinnah a choice of
smaller but sovereign Pakistan or Larger but non-
sovereign Pakistan.
4. Continuation
After discussion the Mission devised a scheme of Union
with two groups of provinces.
From 5th to 12th May the mission called upon four
representatives from each party at Simla:
Muslim League members: Mr. Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan,
Muhammad Ismail Chundrighar & Sardar Abdul Rab
Nishtar.
Congress members: Abul Kalam Azad, Jawhar Lal Nehru,
Patel & Abdul Ghaffar Khan.
Muslim league was ready to negotiate in favor of three tier
Federal government but congress refused and the talks
failed.
5. Proposals
on 16th May 1946, Cabinet Mission published its proposals:
a. India will be a union.
b. India will be divided into three provincial groups
Group-A Hindu majority provinces (Madras, Bombay, U.P,
Bihar, C.P, Orissa)
Group-B Muslim majority Provinces (Punjab, N.W.F.P
{Kpk}, Sindh)
Group-C Partial majority Provinces (Bengal, Assam)
provinces or states could opt out of Union after 10 years.
6. Reaction
both congress and Muslim league first accepted then
rejected and then again accepted the proposals.
on 24th May Congress working committee criticized
the grouping scheme saying it was inconsistent with
the freedom promised.
on 6th June Mr. Jinnah said that the foundation of
Pakistan were in their own scheme.
7. After the Failure of Desai- Liaquat Pact 1945 the constitutional
deadlock continued.
Viceroy Lord Wavell went to London and held talks with the
British Government.
a plan was adopted which was announced by the Secretary of state
of India in the House of Commons on 14th June 1945.
8. Main proposals
I. His Majesty’s Government was willing to take steps for
constitutional and political development after the
conclusion of world war II.
II. Viceroy’s Executive council was to be reconstituted by
adding members from all the main communities
including equal proportions of Muslim and caste
Hindus.
III. All the members of council except Viceroy and
commander in chief were to be Indians.
IV. External Affairs were to be placed under an Indian
Member of council.
V. Section 93 was to be abolished in favor of Popular
ministries in the provinces.
9. Conference at Simla
Lord Wavell convened a meeting at Simla from 25
June till 14 July 1945.
Lord Wavell Discussed the constitutional matters and
details of representation in the interim government.
Simla Conference was attended by 21 top leaders of
India.
during the conference Lord Wavell presented a
formula in which Hindus were to be given 6 seats,
Muslims were to be given 5 seats and minorities were
to be given 3 seats.
