Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 306
CHAPTER FIFTEE'N The last phase of the struggle for the independence of India began in London in the spring of 1945. In the Common- wealth Relations Conference in Chatham House, Stjames's Square, the Indian delegation was led by the President of the Indian Institute of International Relations, who was a zealous member of the Ahmadiyya Movement. In his two speeches on the opening day of the Conference, 17 February, he put forward so strong and well reasoned a plea urging Britain to move forward realistically towards the independence of In- dia that the British press as well as British statesmen were convinced that India's demand for independence could no longer be ignored and that practical steps must be taken through constitutional procedures to satisfy Indian aspi- rations. The immediate reaction of His Majesty's Govern- ment was to invite the Governor General of India, Lord Wavell, to London for consultations. Lord Wavell returned to India armed with a formula for t~e independence of India. He announced his scheme over the All-India Radio on 14 June 1945. On 22 June 1945 Khalifatul Masih II, in his Friday sermon, urged Indian political leaders to take full advantage of the British offer. He concluded his address with a strong plea that Indian political leaders should arrive speedily at an understanding among themselves which should enable India to achieve independence without much delay. He said: Here four hundred million human beings are held in bondage. Their outlook has undergone a tremendous change, in conse- quence of which Britain has announced tp. at it is ready to bestow independence upon India, but Indian political leaders are disputing with each other over matters of detail. . . . We are a small com- munity and observing this state of affairs we can do little to improve it. But we can certainly supplicate the Divine: 'Lord, do Thou open the eyes of Muslim as well as Hindu leaders and bestow 306