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governmentdispatchedSirStaffordCripps,thenLordPrivySeal,toIndiawithproposalsdesignedto

satisfynationalistdemands.TheseproposalscontainedthepromiseoffullindependenceforIndiaafter
theendofthewarandcalledfortheestablishmentofaninterimIndiangovernmentresponsibleforall
mattersexceptnationaldefenceandforeignaffairs.BecausetheleadersofboththeIndianNational

CongressandtheMuslimLeaguehadbasicobjectionstovarioussectionsoftheproposals,theCripps
missionendedinfailure.

ThecivildisobediencemovementwasresumedinAugust1942.Gandhi,Nehru,andthousandsoftheir
supporterswereroundedupandimprisoned,andtheIndianNationalCongresswasoutlawed.

EncouragedbyIndiandisunityandwiththehelpoftheextremenationalist,andformerCongress

president,SubhasChandhraBose,whohadorganizedaprovisionalIndiangovernmentinBurma,

theJapanesepromptlyintensifiedmilitaryoperationsalongtheBurmese-Indianfrontier.TheJapanese
invasionofIndiabeganalonga322-km(200-mi)frontinMarch1944.Afterinitialsuccesses,the
JapaneseweregraduallyforcedbackintoBurmabyAnglo-Indiantroops.

TheBritishgovernmentreleasedGandhifromjailonMay6,1944.DuringhisinternmentGandhihad
modifiedmostofhisviewsregardingthenatureofthewarandtheCrippsprogramme,andin

September1944heandtheMuslimleaderJinnahbegandiscussionsonmutualdifferences.Primarily

becauseofJinnahsinsistenceonthedemarcationofthefrontiersofPakistanpriortotheformationof
aninterimgovernment,thediscussionsendedinfailure.

InterimGovernment

InJune1945IndiabecameachartermemberoftheUN.InthesamemonthNehruwasreleasedfrom
jail,andshortlythereaftertheBritishgovernmentissuedawhitepaperontheIndianquestion.The

proposalscloselyresembledthoseoftheCrippsprogramme.Anotherdeadlockdevelopedandduring
thesecondhalfof1945anewwaveofanti-BritishriotsanddemonstrationssweptIndia.Three

representativesoftheBritishgovernment,includingCripps,madeanotherattempttonegotiatean
agreementwithIndianleadersinthespringof1946.AlthoughtheMuslimLeaguetemporarily

withdrewitsdemandsforthepartitionofIndiaalongreligiouslines,andacceptedtheplanfora

confederalunitedIndia,insuperabledifferencesdevelopedwithrespecttothecharacterofaninterim

government.TheCongresswasalsounhappywiththedecentralizedproposalsbytheCabinetMission
Plan.Thenegotiationswerefruitless,andinJunetheBritishviceroyArchibaldWavellannouncedthe
formationofanemergencycaretakergovernment.Aninterimexecutivecouncil,headedbyNehru
andincludingrepresentativesofallmajorpoliticalgroupsexcepttheMuslimLeague,replacedthis

governmentinSeptember.Thefollowingmonth,theMuslimLeagueagreedtoparticipateinthenew

government.Nonetheless,communalstrifebetweenMuslimsandHindusincreasedinvariouspartsof
India.

Bytheendof1946theIndianpoliticalsituationvergedonanarchy.TheBritishprimeminister

ClementR.AttleeannouncedinFebruary1947thathisgovernmentwouldrelinquishpowerinIndia

notlaterthanJune30,1948.Accordingtotheannouncement,themovewouldbemadewhetheror
notthepoliticalfactionsofIndiahadagreedonaconstitution.PoliticaltensionmountedinIndia

followingtheannouncement,creatinggravepossibilitiesofadisastrousHindu-Muslimcivilwar.After
consultationswithIndianleaders,LouisMountbatten,whosucceededWavellasViceroyinMarch

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