Post War 1945-1947

1. Economy
   1. Can no long afford empire

      Nota:

      • Keynes estimated running of Empire to cost be £1.4 billion
   2. wartime debts to be paid

      Nota:

      • USA funded UK during warIndia had footed the bill for wages for Indian soldiers £50 million/year Overall debt to India £1.3 billion
   3. reconstruction cost

      Nota:

      • British cities destroyed in Blitz
   4. Downward trend in revenue from India exacerbated by war
2. fear unrest
   1. Bombay mutinies 1946

      Nota:

      • 20,000 soldiers mutiny Congress stop muitny - shows their power Demonstrates to Britian that the Army cannot be trusted - never used again
   2. proliferation of weapons after WWII

      Nota:

      • Soldiers didn't hand back weapons when demobbed
   3. Morale in army very low - everone wants to just go home!
   4. nationalist campaigns during war
      1. INA

         Nota:

         • First serious armed uprising since Great Rebellion Issue of PoWs - causes anti-British feeling
      2. Congress

         Nota:

         • Quit India  Movement - turned violent Fear of renewed call for Civil dosobedience
3. fear of civil war
   1. 1940 Muslim League demand seperate state
   2. Muslim League took positions from resigned Congress ministers - increased tensions
4. change of British attitude
   1. 1945 elections - Atlee PM

      Nota:

      • Socialist - wants social reforms in Britain Wants reform in India too. Needs money - KEY FACTOR - NHS
   2. Churchill voted out

1. Offers

   Nota:

   • choice between: Federal System - minimal input from the national govt - majority of power to rest with the provinical/state govts. After an unspecified time states could choose to break away (secede) OR  Seperate states
   1. Britain hope to make the first offer a compromise both sides could accept
      1. Rejected by both ML and Congress
2. May Statement

   Nota:

   • Rejected by Congress but accepted by ML Reinterpreted by Congress - British allow this ML reject - DAD
   1. States first option will be used as basis for indpendence despite no agreement
3. Key People
   1. Sir Stafford Cripps

      Nota:

      • Determined to succeed having failed in 1942 Very close to Gandhi and Congress - led to antagonism between groups.
   2. Pethick Lawrence

      Nota:

      • a 'yes' man - nickname 'pathetic Lawrence'.  Tried to say yes to everything.  Rubbish negotiator.

1. Caused by failure of Cab Miss
2. National Hartal - Peaceful mass movement
   1. Jinnah wants to show power of ML
   2. Everywhere except Calcutta the movement is peaceful
3. Calcutta Killings

   Nota:

   • 6,000 dead 20,000 wounded 100,000 homeless
   1. hartal quickly descends into violence
      1. Violence spreads across the North of India - rioting and disruption continue until independence
   2. Hindus, Mulsims, British all bear some responsibility
   3. Majority of worst violence caused by gang warfare - movement hijacked by criminal underworld
   4. Seen (by some) as point of no return for united India
   5. Damages Jinnah's reputation

1. Close relationship with Nehru

   Nota:

   • Leads to friction with ML and JInnah in particular
   1. Simla Moment

      Nota:

      • Mountbatten shows Nehru his plans for independence - changes them when Nehru doesn't like them.
2. Very bad relationship with Jinnah
3. Given job largely due to royal connections

   Nota:

   • Atlee wants to cover the end of empire with a little royal glamour
4. Plan Balkan

   Nota:

   • Rubbish Plan - would never be accepted by Congress - could potentially have led to the complete break up of the sub continent   see Simla moment
5. Menon Plan

   Nota:

   • Drafted in 3hrs - had to be checked by Nehru! based on May Statement gave very little time to carry out partition planning
   1. 2 state solution
   2. Possible after Congress decided to accept partition in March 1947

Nota:

• Viceroy/Governor Gen of Exce Council - Wavell Nehru - Vice President (in control of foreign affairs) Patel - Home Affairs (security/law/secret services etc) Ali Khan - Muslim rep on Exec Council Jinnah - finance minister

1. Stepping stone to independent govt.
2. Seen by Patrick French as more significant than independence
3. Splits when partition is decided upon

1. 14/15th August 1947
2. Huge amounts of migration and violence approx 1million dead