The Wavell Plan

Viscount Wavell, Viceroy of India, did not return to Britain merely to have his head modeled by modernist Sculptor Jacob Epstein. From Indian sources in London, TIME was informed last week that the British Government had drafted a new, far-reaching, administrative plan for India. The chief planner was Viscount Wavell, who brought with him to London Sir Francis Mudie, constitutional expert of the Indian Civil Service, and Rao Bahadur Menon, secretary of the Reforms Committee of the Indian Assembly.

Soon the Viceroy will return to New Delhi. There he will reportedly take three steps: 1) release all Indian political leaders from internment and otherwise restore civil liberties; 2) call a joint session of the Legislative Assembly and Council of State (upper house of the Indian Legislature) and announce London's new proposals for breaking the long-standing deadlock between Indian nationalists and the British Raj; 3) meet with Indian political leaders of all parties to discuss the proposals.

Modified Cripps Plan. The Wavell

Plan, which would be effective until the granting of Indian independence or dominion status, is a modified Cripps Plan. Under the Cripps Plan, the Viceroy had complete control over defense and foreign affairs. Under the Wavell Plan, the Viceroy will also control finance. Under the Cripps Plan, the Assembly could not overthrow the Government by a vote of censure. Under the Wavell Plan, the Assembly can overthrow the Government and cause a change of Executive Council (Cabinet) on any issue except defense, finance or foreign affairs.

The proposed viceregal control of finance is presumably due in part to Britain's debtor position to India. Britain now owes -L-1,030,000,000 (about $4,500,000,000) in the form of sterling credit to India. Britain is unable to repay even a small part of the debt immediately, and does not want India to sell her sterling credit to the U.S. In time she hopes to pay her debt by sales of export goods to India.

Agreement Imperative. Before the new plan can be put into effect, the Congress party and the Moslem League must agree to equal representation in the Executive Council. The Moslems, who are outnumbered by the Hindus, like this idea.* Bhulabhai Desai, Congress leader in the Assembly (TIME, March 19) with whom Viscount Wavell reportedly discussed this question, hopes that the Congress party will also agree. But diehard nationalists may hold out against British control of finance and of defense.

If the Wavell Plan fails, the Viceroy has the full approval of the British Cabinet to use the Indian Army to keep order and suppress any revolt quickly. He has asked for an increase of British officers in the Indian Army.

*The question of Pakistan (a separate Moslem state) will be indefinitely postponed. Cabled to London for Wavell's consideration was a broadly similar plan which also ruled out Pakistan. The plan was drafted by elderly, eminent lawyer Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and a group of Indian Liberals. Its main recommendations: 1) release of all political prisoners; 2) a new, Dominion-status constitution for India; 3) coalition governments in all provinces, with an all-Indian national coalition government.

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