Initially wanted to keep India united, but failed. So resorted to Plan Balkan.
- 3rd Jun Plan
- within 2 months, MTB realized that Cabinet Mission Plan 1946 (or united india) impossible due to Jinnah
- British National Interest influence in south asia post decolonization
- better to have 2 dominions friendly to britain instead of risking unfriendly future Pak created by direct action
- partition was avoidable if Brits had acted against communal violence but they played passive role of mediators b/w ML & INC
- MTB plan gave dominion status that allowed India & Pak into a commonwealth that was imp for brit trade & business
- political victory for brit govt among brit ppl
- INC agreed to partition & dominion and all other INC demands accepted
- India was to be divided but Pak to be as small as possible and informal promise that 565PS not to be independent + a strong center
- Brits to exit india in 72 days i.e. 15 Aug 1947 (i.e. 1yr advance from 30th Jun 1948)
- in Punjab & Bengal - a simple majority of either Hindu or Muslim MPLA in favor of partition would lead to partition
- MLPA in favor of partition would lead to partition
- Plebiscite in Sindh
- Referendum in NWFP, Sylhet + voting by pol. leaders in Balochistan
- if vote in favor of Pak, then 2CA for 2 dominions and PoP to 2 centers by 15th Aug
- INC & ML both accepted + voted everywhere in favor of partition and Pak
- 2 boundary commissions under Radcliffe - a british jurist set up for demarcating borders in west & east