The war in Europe ended in May 1945. Earlier that year, when the allies` eventual victory became certain, Britain began to turn its attention again to Indian affairs. An uneasy quiet prevailed in the country. Congress was still banned, and the entire working committee was under confinement.

Gandhiji had been released from jail for medical reasons in May 1944. For some time he was preoccupied with parleys with Jinnah over the issue of Pakistan. There were some tentative negotiations with Lord Wavell. He was the then viceroy since October 1943.

In March 1945 Lord Wavell flew to London in order to consult with the British cabinet about the Indian situation. He returned to Delhi in June. On the 14th broadcast a plan was designed `to ease the present political situation and to advance India towards her goal of full self-government`. A conference would be held in the summer capital of Simla, to which leaders of the congress, league, scheduled castes, Sikhs, and other groups would be invited. The main topic of discussion would be the formation of a new executive council. All the members of this body except the viceroy and the commander-in-chief would be Indians. Even the vital department of external affairs would be in the hands of an Indian member. The council would govern the country under the existing constitution until such time as a new permanent constitution could be agreed upon and come to force. This meant that Britain was `placing India`s immediate future in Indian hands.` The explanation was given by the secretary of state L. S. Amery.

The Simla conference began on a note of optimism. Gandhiji, who had been opposed to the Cripps offer, felt that Wavells plan was sincere and would lead to independence. However Jinnah, `flatly refused to cooperate`, as Wavell later reported. The Muslim league leader was determined to undermine the conference unless it agreed to his own terms. These included the demand that Muslims that are not belonging to the league could not be appointed to the executive council. Congress president Abdul Kalam Azad was firmly opposed to any such arrangement. As Azad was a Muslim, he was well aware that `a large bloc of Muslims had nothing to do with the league`. Congress would be betraying its Muslim members if it accepted Jinnah`s demand.

Wavell would not proceed without obtaining Jinnah`s co-operation. When it was withheld, the viceroy announced the failure of the conference. From this point onward the communal question dominated the struggle for freedom. Indeed, the attainment of freedom was already certain. Now the conflict was between those who struggled to achieve a united and secular Indian state, and those whose rigid sectarianism stood in the way of this accomplishment.