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 that it was both in the interest of Indian States and of the country that the States should become actively associated with the Dominion Government instead of holding a watching brief as it were in the deliberations of the Constituent Assembly. With their valuable assistance and co-operation and the helpful efforts of Lord Mountbatten, negotiations were concluded in a week's time and, barring Hyderabad, Kashmir and Junagadh, all the States in the geographical limits of India had acceded to the Indian Dominion by 15th August 1947.

 

81. The Instruments of Accession executed by the Rulers (Appendix VII), provided for the accession of States to the Dominion of India on three subjects, namely, Defence, External Affairs and Communications, their content being as defined in List I of Schedule VII to the Government of India Act, 1935. This accession did not imply any financial liability on the part of the acceding States. The Instrument of Accession formulated as a result of the discussions with the Princes was accepted only from the States which exercised full jurisdiction. The States, in respect of which the Crown Representative exercised certain powers and jurisdiction, signed Instruments of Accession (Appendix VIII), which provided also for the exercise of similar powers and jurisdiction by the Dominion Government.

 

82. Standstill Agreements, the acceptance of which was made by the Government of India conditional on accession by the States concerned were also entered into between the Dominion Government and the acceding States. The Standstill Agreements (Appendix IX), provided for the continuance for the time being of all subsisting agreements and administrative arrangements in matters of common concern between the States and the Dominion of India or any part thereof.

 

83. The accession of the Indian States to the Dominion of India established a new organic relationship between the States and the Government of India. The constitutional link thus forged proved strong enough to bear the stress of the upheaval through which the country had to pass and enabled the Government of India and the Governments of the States and the Provinces concerned to take concerted and co-ordinated action in relation to matters of common concern. 