THE TRANSFER OF POWER 453
the new constitution giving them the same full status as Indian Union and arrived at by procedure analogous to that here laid down.
(2) Signing of treaty which shall be negotiated between His Majesty’s Government and the constitutionmaking body. This treaty will cover all necessary matters arising out of complete transfer of responsibility from British to Indian hands; it will make provision in acordance with the undertakings given by His Majesty’s Government for protection of racial and religious minorities: But will not impose any restriction on power of Indian union to decide in future its relationship to other member states of British Comonwealth. Whether or not an Indian State elects to adhere to the constitution it will be necessary to negotiate revision of its treaty arrangements so far as they may be required in the new situation.
(d) Constitution making body shall be composed as follows unless leaders of Indian opinion in principal communities agree upon some other form before the end of hostilities. Immediately upon the result being known of provincial elections which will be necessary at the end of the hostilities, entire membership of lower houses of provincial legislatures shall as single electoral college proceed to the election of constitution making body by system of proportional representation. This new body shall be in number about one-tenth of the number of electoral colleges. Indian States shall be invited to appoint representatives in the same proportion to their total population as in the case of representatives of British India as a whole and with same powers as the British Indian members.
(e) During critical period which now faces India and until the new constitution can be framed, His Majesty’s Government must inevitably bear responsibility for and retain control and direction of Defence of India as part of their world war effort, but the task to organise the full military, moral and material resources of India must be the responsibility of the Government of India with co-operation of peoples of India. His Majesty’s Government desire