months, become a strong and free state. These deci-
sions are the outcome of the world situation, the
broad-minded statesmanship of the Labour Party, and
the policies which Gandhiji has followed since 1919.
If Britain keeps to these pledges she will have no
reason to repent for this magnificent gesture of poli-
tical far-sightedness. It has removed Pakistan out
of the picture. It will make India free. It will con-
vert British Commonwealth into a great democratic
world federation of all races. It will stabilise Asia and
through it the world.
In this way will have been opened a new chapter
in world's history.
(4)
What can be said of the general outline of these
decisions cannot be said of the detailed proposals for
carrying them out. The Cabinet Mission's formula is
formed not on the basis of plebescite or veto. It is
the result of a weak desire on the part of British states-
men to please the Congress and the League and of a
subconscious bias in favour of Prof. Coupland's sinis-
ter proposal for regional disruption of India. But
such a compromise sought to be enforced by a third
'party leads nowhere.
The detailed proposals have, therefore, to be
judged from two standards—
First, whether as a result of these proposals, India
will have a strong Centre with plenary powers;
Second, whether the intermediate arrangement
will lead to a just adjustment of the claims of the Pro-
vinces and the communities.
170