Allan Octavian Hume
formation given them, and never act on it (if they respect themselves) unless convinced of the integrity of their informants. Therefore you require high-class men to 'coach' and inform members. If they appear and are in earnest, you will get plenty of help." For preference, members would listen to a trustworthy Indian; and if you "succeeded in obtaining a seat for him simply to represent Indian grievances, he would be listened to in the House and would be a real power for good." Besides these definite suggestions, all British friends were agreed that if the cause of India was to make progress among the British people, a vigorous and sustained propaganda must be kept up throughout the country, by means of public meetings, lectures, pamphlets, articles and correspondence in the Press, and by securing the sympathy of local associations and of influential public men. A local British Committee, to act as the guiding and propelling power in this work, was evidently required; but it was felt that the time had not yet come to reorganize on a permanent basis the informal Committee of sympathizers, who were then attending to Indian interests in England.
II. The First Session of the Indian National Congress.
Having accomplished his mission in England, and established touch with the leading progressives there, Mr. Hume returned to India, in order to watch over the arrangements for the first Conference of the Indian National Union, which had been fixed to be held at Poona from the 25th to the 30th of December 1885. The Poona Reception Committee had made admirable preparations. To accommodate the delegates, the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha (the leading Association of the Deccan)
granted the use of the Peshwa's palace of Heerabagh,
57
