§ 109. Mr. Sorensenasked the Undersecretary of State for India the circum- 297W stances that have led to the participation of the Muslim League in the Interim Government; to what extent there has been a departure from the original proposals of the Cabinet Mission; and whether negotiation with the Indian Princes is now entirely a matter for the Interim Government and the Governor-General.
§ Mr. A. HendersonThe proposals made by the Cabinet Mission in their Statement of 16th June as to the composition of an Interim Government of all parties were not acceptable to the Congress Party because no Muslim was included in the Congress quota of seats. The Muslim League have now agreed to enter the Interim Government notwithstanding the nomination of a Muslim by the Congress in their quota. There has been no departure from the Cabinet Mission's Statement of 16th May. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to Section 313 (5) of the Government of India Act, to paragraphs 14 and 19 (ii) of the Mission's Statement of 16th May, to the Memorandum on States, Treaties and Paramountcy which forms item B in Command 6835, and to items 4 and 5 in Command 6862, where the position is fully stated.