America's entry into World War II in December 1941 led to increasing international pressure on the British government to resolve the India issue. US President Elliot Roosevelt put pressure on the British government for the independence of India. The British government could not ignore the advice of the American government because it was due to American aid that Britain's position in the war had improved and Britain's economy was stable.
In March 1942, the Imperial Japanese army came so close to India that its invasion could begin at any time. This attack was to be not on India, but on the British stationed in India. The British knew that if India did not get the cooperation of the Indians themselves, it would be impossible to survive in front of the Japanese. In the changed circumstances, the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill took a soft stance. In this way the British Government got started in the First Round Table Conference 'India Union Plan' Had to start all over again.
On 11 March 1942, the Prime Minister of England, Winston Churchill, made a statement in the House of Commons, which said- 'The War Cabinet is sending Sir Stafford Cripps to India so that the reforms that the British Government may have carried out as per the wishes of the Indians. To allay the fears and doubts of Indians about them. Cripps enjoys the full confidence of the monarchical government. The proposal that Cripps is bringing with them should either be fully accepted or completely rejected.'
Cripps reached Delhi on 22 March 1942. He was a leader of communist thought and he had sympathy with Indians but he did not like kings and monarchy. This proved to be his biggest weakness. His preparations were only to deal with the Congress and the Muslim League, he did not know that the bigger trouble for his mission in India than these two was the Indian kings.
The Cripps mission could not be successful due to the almost unheard of the king's side. In India he talked to various Indian parties including Congress, Muslim League and tried to understand the difference between what the Indians wanted to take and what the white government of England wanted to give them. V. B. Kulkarni has written - Cripps was considered a friend and well-wisher of India.
On 28 March 1942, Cripps held talks with the delegation of Narendra Mandal. Cripps told the kings that 'If the Union of India comes into existence, then the relations of the country-states will be with the independent colony i.e. the Union of India and not with the British Crown. The Treaties of Excess shall remain unchanged unless a State expresses a desire to terminate it in order to adjust itself to the new conditions.'
The kings rejected this offer of Cripps. They did not want to hand over their fate in the hands of the Congress. Therefore, even after India's independence, they wanted to keep their states under the British Crown within the scope of the treaties made by the East India Company in the past.
On 29 March 1942, in a press conference, Cripps presented a draft plan for an agreement between the various parties, stating that- 'After the end of the war, a new constitution aimed at the establishment of the Indian Union. A Constituent Assembly will be formed to make Provision will be made for the participation of British provinces and native states in the Constituent Assembly. If any province of British India does not accept the new constitution, then it can remain in its status quo. It will be given a status equal to that of the Union of India. The Constituent Assembly will be formed by the lower houses of the Legislative Assemblies of the various provinces by the system of proportional representation. For this new elections will be held. The number of members in all the lower houses will be that of the Constituent Assembly. Indian princely states will be invited to send representatives in proportion to their population in the Constituent Assembly. The powers of the princely representatives would be similar to that of the British-Indian representatives. The princely states will have the freedom to accept the new constitution or not. There will be a total of 207 members in the Constituent Assembly, out of which 158 will be from British-India and 49 will be from princely states. Until a new constitution is framed, the Emperor's government, being a part of India's world war undertaking, will keep the responsibility of the defense of India in its own hands, but the responsibility of providing army, courage and material resources rests with the citizens of India. In collaboration with the Government of India. It is the desire of the Government that the leaders of the major Indian parties be invited to participate promptly and effectively in consultations in the Councils, Commonwealth and United Nations of their country so that they can provide the necessary and vital active and constructive cooperation for India's independence. be able to give.'
Responding to questions from journalists after the presentation of the plan, Cripps said 'immediate efforts would be made to create a Union of India. Can't wait for the war to end. Provincial elections will be held as soon as there is a consensus among the various parties. Constituent Assembly will be set up as soon as the election results are received. We don't want to impose anything on India, not even a time limit.'
Journalists asked- 'Do you know that England has a history of going back on its promises? Can you get President Roosevelt to get these proposals guaranteed?'
Cripps replied that- 'If you don't believe in me, there is no guarantee of anything. President Roosevelt will not be available for this.'
Cripps was asked that- 'Nothing has been said about the participation of the people of the native states in the Constituent Assembly under these resolutions.
On this, Cripps said that- 'If there is any method of election in any state then they will be used but if there are no elected institutions in any state then this work will be done by nominated representatives.'
Journalists asked- 'How will you find out that the native states are going to join the Union of India?
Cripps said- 'By asking the native states.'
Journalists asked- 'Will the citizens of the states have any voice?
Cripps said- 'It will be decided by the present governments of those states. We will not form any new governments. The British government's relations with the states are through treaties, those treaties will last until the states express their desire to change them. If Indian states join the Union, they will be in exactly the condition they are in today.'
Journalists asked- 'If any province or state does not want to participate, how will they be treated?
Cripps said- 'They will treat other states as they treat other powers like Japan, Siam, China, Burma or any other country.'