...the long-term offer of Dominion Status was, as Gandhiji remarked, a 'post-dated cheque on a failing bank.'

Early in 1942, Sir Stafford Cripps, a member of the War Cabinet of Mr. Churchill, was sent to make a definite offer to India on behalf of the British Government, Sir Stafford Cripps proposed the following constituional reforms:

• A constitution-making body ( consisting of members elected by the Lower House of the Indian Legislature and the representatives of the Indian States nominated by their rulers) would be set up to draft a new constitution.
• India would be given Dominion Status immediately after the termination of the war.
• It envisaged a federation of British India and the Indian States as a dominion within the British Commonwealth.
• Britain would accept the constitution framed by the constitution-making body, subject to the following conditions:
  1. If any British Province did not wish to join the federation, it could retain its present position and the British Government would give it the same status as the rest of the Indian Union.
  2. A treaty would be signed between the constitution-making body and the British Government covering all subjects regarding transfer of power, including the rights of the minorities.
• Indian leaders were invited to participate in the Council of their country and the Commonwealth.
• The power of Viceroy would remain as hitherto and he would be responsible for the defence of the country.

Rejection of the Offer

The proposals gave a severe blow to Indian unity as the provinces could not opt to join the federation and this tantamounted to the acceptance of Pakistan in principle. Secondly, it was felt that the interests of the people of the Indian states were ignored as the Indian States would be represented by the representatives nominated by their rulers. No limit was set for the actual grant of Dominion Status. But the chief difficulty in arriving at an agreement, concerned the defence measures and the powers of the Governor General. Initially Cripps proposed that the Governor-General in the proposed scheme would function as a constitutional head like the king in the United Kingdom and the power would rest with the Council as it rests with the British Cabinet. But Cripps soon retraced his steps, perhaps under the instructions of the Home Government. The negotiations between Cripps and the representatives of the Congress broke down on April 10. The Muslim League also rejected the proposals as these did not contain a specific acceptance of the creation Pakistan.

Since the very foundation of the British Empire seemed to be uncertain at that moment of World War, the long-term offer of Dominion Status was, as Gandhiji remarked, a 'post-dated cheque on a failing bank.'