Question

The Cabinet Mission was commissioned by the British Government in February 1946 to find a solution for constitutional reforms in India. In the light of this, answer the following questions:
(a) Who were the members of the Cabinet Mission?
(b) Why was the Cabinet Mission appointed?
(a) Why the Mission didn't concede to the League's demand for Pakistan?

Answer 1

(a) The Cabinet Mission arrived in India in 1946. it consisted of three members:

• Pethic Lawrence, the Secretary of State.
• Sir Stafford Cripps, President of the Board of Trade.
• A.V. Alexander, the First Lord of Admiralty

(b) Cabinet Mission was sent to India to facilitate the process of transfer of power. The Mission's aim was to help the Indian leaders decide the form of government that would suit them after the transfer of power.

(c) Muslim League's demand for Pakistan was rejected by the Cabinet Mission for the following reasons:

• The establishment of Pakistan would not solve the problems of communal minorities because the number of Muslims in the remaining part of British India and the number of Muslims in Pakistan would be sizeable.
• There was no justification for including within Pakistan, the non-Muslim districts of Bengal, Assam and the Punjab.
• The Princely States would find it difficult to decide which Union to join.