How Far Do Sources Suggest That the Main Responsibility for the Failure of the Cabinet Mission of 1946 Lay with Mohammed Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League?

561 Words3 Pages
June 2010 – Section A (Sources included with exam paper) Introduction: On one hand the sources suggest that Jinnah was indeed responsible for the failure of the Cabinet Mission of 1946. He is portrayed as arrogant and quick to call for Direct Action as opposed to constitutional methods. However, the alternative view presented by the sources is that Nehru, INC leader, was equally to blame for arrogance in his attitude towards any future constitutional solution and in some ways provoked the actions of Jinnah. Side A One view presented by the sources is that Jinnah was to blame for the collapse of the Cabinet Mission and that Nehru, leader of the INC, was happy to participate. In source 10, Caroe argues that Jinnah was “very arrogant...and immovable”. This suggests that he was not a good politician to be negotiating with and that his view was seen by him as correct. This view is corroborated in source 12, from Jinnah himself. When Jinnah realises that he is not going to get the deal that he hoped for from the British and the INC his reaction is again arrogance: “now we bid goodbye to constitutional methods”. Jinnah seems to be proving the opinion of Caroe in source 10. This is in contrast to the Inc leader Nehru who simply says: “Congress has agreed...to participate.” Unlike Jinnah, Nehru seems happy to take part in the Cabinet Mission’s proposals. Overall the credibility of this view is strong. Source 10 offers a balanced view as we know that Caroe knows both men. Source 12 is Jinnah himself trying to antagonise Muslims with the motive of Direct Action. However, source 11 may be biased as Nehru is attempting to shift any blame for failure away from him and the INC. Side B An alternative view presented by the sources is that Nehru was to blame for the Cabinet Mission’s collapse and that Jinnah was simply reacting to Nehru’s comments. In source

More about How Far Do Sources Suggest That the Main Responsibility for the Failure of the Cabinet Mission of 1946 Lay with Mohammed Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League?

Open Document