Page:Allan Octavian Hume, C.B.; Father of the Indian National Congress.djvu/114

 to arouse public opinion in this country by means of the Platform and the Press. In 1906, after presiding at the Benares Congress, he returned to England as the ac- credited representative of the Congress. But the situa- tion had much changed in the meantime. Our political friends were in power ; so that to address public meet- ings was a secondary matter ; and his main object was to come into touch with, and inform, Ministers and Members of Parliament, upon whom the future of India mainly depended. For this purpose he not only addressed meetings of the Indian Parliamentary Com- mittee, but also personally interviewed about 150 mem- bers of the House of Commons, and secured from them promises of active interest in Indian affairs. As regards interviews with Ministers, the most important were natur- ally those he had with Mr. Morley, who accorded to him a series of long interviews, in which he was able to place fully before the newly appointed Secretary of State the needs and aspirations of the Indian people. Mr. Ellis, the Under Secretary for India, who was an original member of the British Committee, also had cordial inter- views with Mr. Gokhale, and invited him to a breakfast party, where he and other Parliamentary friends expressed their sympathy. Finally the Prime Minister, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, accorded him an interview, and gave him a most kindly hearing.

Support of the Propaganda. These particulars of the propaganda in England, as regards Parliament, the Press, and the Platform, have been set forth in some detail for a specific purpose, viz,ai to impress on the Indian public the very precarious posi* tion of Indian interests, and the absolute need of an organization in England, well-informed, vigilant, and