The correct option is The issue of the Viceroy’s Executive Council and the Defence Member post..
Explanation
The Cripps Mission arrived in India in March 1942, headed by Sir Stafford Cripps, to secure Indian cooperation for World War II. While it offered Dominion Status after the war, the negotiations for immediate cooperation collapsed due to disagreements over the extent of power transfer during the war.Reason for the Breakdown
The primary cause of the failure was the deadlock between the Indian National Congress and the British government regarding the interim government arrangements.
- Viceroy’s Executive Council: The Congress demanded that the Viceroy’s Executive Council be transformed into a National Government functioning as a Cabinet with full powers, leaving the Viceroy as a constitutional head. The British government refused to give up the Viceroy's veto power.
- Defence Portfolio: The most contentious issue was control over Defence. The British insisted that the Commander-in-Chief retain complete control over the armed forces and war operations. Congress demanded that an Indian member be in charge of Defence to mobilize public support for the war. The compromise offered by Cripps was viewed as superficial, leading to the breakdown of talks.
Analysis of Other Options
- The refusal of the British to grant Dominion Status. is incorrect: The British did offer Dominion Status (to be granted after the war). While Gandhi famously termed this a "post-dated cheque," the refusal to grant it was not the reason for the breakdown; rather, the issue was the lack of immediate power transfer.
- The demand for a separate Pakistan by the Muslim League. is incorrect: The Muslim League did reject the proposals because they did not explicitly concede Pakistan. However, the mission was officially withdrawn primarily because the negotiations with the Congress (the largest party) failed over the Defence and Executive Council issues.
- Gandhi’s immediate arrest before negotiations could begin. is incorrect: Gandhi and other leaders were arrested in August 1942 during the Quit India Movement, which was launched after the failure of the Cripps Mission.
Key Takeaway
The Cripps Mission failed because the British were unwilling to accept the demand for a Cabinet-style government and the transfer of the Defence portfolio to Indian hands during the war.