Nationalist forces were successful, penetrating new areas post-war. Nationalism spread in the bureaucracy due to Indianisation policy (British-Indian ICS parity by 1939). British conciliation-repression strategy failed. Cripps’ Offer was insufficient; only full freedom remained an offering. Government was exposed, repressing even non-violent resistance. Congress constitutionalism boosted patriotic sentiment. INA prisoner leniency demands from the military raised reliability concerns. Officials lacked numbers for mass movement repression. British now aimed for a settlement to ensure good Indo-British post-imperial relations.