ABSTRACT
When war broke out in Europe in September 1939 the Britishpolitical will to hold on to its Indian empire was as strongas it ever had been, despite qualitative changes in the economic relations between metropolis and colony. The forces of Indian nationalism were more radicalized but were also more divided than they had been in the past. The Congress leadership, having just fended off a left-wing challenge, asked the British to define their war aims before they agreed to any support for the British cause. Congress leaders had been deeply offended and embarrassed by Viceroy Linlithgow’s decision to declare India a belligerent in the war against Germany without bothering to consult the Congress high command or the provincial ministries. Once it became clear that the British were not of a mind to make any immediate concessions to Indian nationalist aspirations, Congress had little choice but to resign from holding office in the provinces as a mark of protest.
