India in WW2

Impact on Britain in IndiaIndia in WW2Patriotism3 Sept 1939 Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow declared India at war.No consultation with Indian leadersSome saw: an affront (insult) that lasted longer than war.Lord Linlithgow:confronted with the demand that she should accept the dictation of a foreign power in relation to her own subjects, India has decided to stand firmIndian reaction2 m joined the army.Gandhi (INC) and Jinnah (ML) agreed to halt plans for an Indian federation.BUT! Gandhi advised pacifism and offered to go to meet Hitler.Nehru and Congress attacked Hitler and British appeasementCongress resigned from the ministries.Angered the British and opened a door for the Muslim leaders.

Working Committee Muslim League, 1940Lahore ResolutionJan 1940Jinnah: there are in India two nationsMarch 1940100,000 members of Muslim League met at LahoreJinnah: The Muslims are a nation by any definitionHe compared Muslim/Hindu issue to British/Irish situation.Lahore Resolution - Jinnahs confusing and complex answer to sectarian issues in India independent statesSource analysis and evaluationJinnah It is extremely difficult to appreciate why our Hindu friends fail to understand the real nature of Islam and Hinduism. They are not religions in the strict sense of the word, but are, in fact, different and distinct social orders, and it is a dream that the Hindus and Muslims can ever evolve a common nationality, and this misconception of one Indian nation has troubles and will lead India to destruction if we fail to revise our notions in time. The Hindus and Muslims belong to two different religious philosophies, social customs, cultures. They neither intermarry nor interdine together and, indeed, they belong to two different civilizations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. Their aspect on life and of life are different. It is quite clear that Hindus and Mussalmans derive their inspiration from different sources of history. They have different epics, different heroes, and different episodes. Very often the hero of one is a foe of the other and, likewise, their victories and defeats overlap. To yoke together two such nations under a single state, one as a numerical minority and the other as a majority, must lead to growing discontent and final destruction of any fabric that may be so built for the government of such a state.AmbiguityResolution was very unclear.Two equal separations? A.K. Fazlul HuqTwo wings of one state JinnahDid it mean partition?Did it mean a Hindu state inside an Indian state?Jinnah clarified his intentions in 1946Pakistan would be a secular Muslim state he did not favour a religious stateResearch Two-Nation Theory also called hostage theoryProblemsE.g. . what about Muslims not in those areas?Move?Stay as a weaker minority?What about Sikhs and Pathans in new Muslim state?Jinnah Hostage TheoryMinorities would mutually protect rights of other minorities.Opinions & ConsequencesLahore ResolutionNehru - fantastical (unbelievable)Gandhi baffling (confusing)British kept quiet. Evidence of policy to divide and conquer?Consequence: growing fears of reprisal/ vengeance/ retribution

Churchill as PMHe came to power in 1940 as war deteriorated for Britain.Reactionary views on IndiaSec of State for India, Lord Zetland, resigned because his views were considered too progressive.Leo Amery appointedHis brief Limited Concessions only.Amery stated that constitutional reforms in India were on hold and would only continue after the war.August 1940 OfferA constitutional settlement was proposed.Dominion StatusRejected by CongressViceroy Linlithgow promised a crack down on Congress if it initiated civil disobedience.Congress called for individual acts of disobedience.Linlithgow wanted to declare Congress a treasonable organisation but Churchill turned him down (why?).20,000 imprisonments inside one yearIndian National ArmyFormed and led by Subhas Chandra Bose.Was it an army of traitors or were they freedom fighters?1941 Bose under house arrest.He fled to Berlin to set up an army of liberation.Set up Indian legionSet up radio and issued propaganda about Free India.Bose realised after meeting with Hitler that Germany only interested in his anti-British propagandaFled to Japan where he was supported by General Tojo Gained 10,000 volunteers.INAINA between 15000 and 50000 people.Went into battle against the BritishPoorly suppliedMany killed and thousands surrenderedBose escaped and died in an air crash.INA provoked unrest during and after war - how to deal with the captured INA soldiers.1942Threat of invasion of UK over but war still going badly.Threat of Japan increasedBritish defeats in the east and India under real threat.Churchill needed strategic support of the USAChurchill and Roosevelt disagreed strongly about the role of Britain in India.Atlantic CharterAug 1941Basis for cooperationIncluded support for sovereign rights and self-governmentChurchills view this only applied to conquered countriesRoosevelts view fundamental principle applying to all.FDR - pushed Churchill to make concessions in India.FDRWarned ChurchillUSA will not help Britain to hang onto the empire.Even if an Indian uprising leads to invasion by Japan/Germany.Churchill agreed to send Sir Stafford Cripps to discuss Dominion status.Cripps MissionWhy did he send Cripps?To buy off RooseveltCripps was a potential rival and this was impossible taskLinlithgow not informed so angry with Cripps from the start.Cripps MissionTwo aimsTo discuss and win support for the offer of dominion status.To discuss arrangements for the rest of war and to give minimal concessions on this.He announced his conclusions to a resounding lack of support from all sides including BritishOffered to resign, withdrew it and parliament discussed the failure.He offeredAfter the war India would get full dominion statusIndians would elect an assembly to frame a new constitutionIf any province or princely state wanted to opt out they couldIn return for this offer he desired that all Indian parties would join an interim government of India until the end of the war.Failure - CongressGandhi rejected it outrightCongress not willing to accept the right of some states to opt outThey did however generally approves of the invitation to join an interim government with some conditions attached

Failure Britain and Muslim League and the USAChurchill and Linlithgow rejected Cripps offer as an Indian government would give them the power to direct part of the war effortJinnah liked Cripps offer because it hinted at a separate Pakistan.Roosevelt liked Cripps offer and wanted Cripps to stay in India and work out a solution.ConsequenceWeakening of CongressGood for Churchill, Amery and LinlithgowUSA and Labour Party demands diminished in face of Congress ungrateful actions.ConsequenceConstitution reform put away FOR THE DURATION.Both sides harden their stanceLinlithgow:More press censorshipMore spying on CongressSummer 1942 plans being drawn up for civil disobedience.Mass strikes, destroy communications and railways.Intercepted by BritishLinlithgow first plan arrest and deport CongressWar Cabinet authorised Linlithgow all necessary measures

Quit India Resolution8 August 1942Gandhi - Do or die for nothing less than freedomto sanction, for the vindication of Indias inalienable right to freedom and independence, the starting of a mass struggle on non-violent lines on the widest possible scale. Every man and woman who is participating in the movement must function for himself or herself within the four corners of the general instructions issuedBritish ResponseHow did the British respond?What was the effect of suppression on respect for the British?Viceroy WavellQuit India civil disobedience was contained.Having twice extended Linlithgows office, Churchill had to choose.He chose Wavell, the Commander in Chief of India.Why Wavell?A hard line?Wavell had lost confidence as Comm In ChiefPolitical skills and negotiation skills not needed. Why?No negotiation required or under close control from London.Indian SituationWarIndia was paying UK vast sums towards war effort1943 - 800m - UK could never afford to repayWavellTravelled to LondonRealised Churchill knew little about India, hated India and was not committed to progress.October 1943Started travelling India to consultHeld regular meets of the 11 provincial governors.Linlithgow held none.Bengal FamineTwo terrible harvests -42 and 43Lack of imports and other foodstuffs due to warMalnutrition pneumonia, cholera and malariaBetween 1 and 3 million deaths.Wavell humanitarian view lives needed to be savedPolitically key British rule is supposed to be good for idea.Criticisms from Jinnah about incompetence.

WavellActed fastDiverted troops from war to distribute foodIntroduced rationing and control panic buyingHad to request a new governor for BengalRequested grainCherwell advised Churchill that famine was unlikelyWavell got half what he wanted, twice what he was promised.By mid 1944 under controlAmery great damage to our reputation here