Coll 1/63 'Aden. Precautionary measures in view of Italo-Ethiopian dispute: scheme for evacuation of civilians from Aden in certain eventualities'

Content

The file contains papers regarding the preparation of a scheme for the evacuation of civilians from Aden, in the event of the outbreak of hostilities between Italy and Britain.

The file primarily consists of correspondence between the Aden Resident, the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Political Department, the Colonial Office, the Air Ministry, Government of India Foreign and Political Department, the War Office, and the Mercantile Marine Department of the Board of Trade. There are also excerpts of minutes from the Committee of Imperial Defence Sub-Committee on Defence Policy and Requirements.

The following topics are discussed: the categorisation of the dependents of European and Indian officials and non-officials, plus other inhabitants; the capacity for commercial maritime traffic to transport evacuees; the proposed destinations for evacuees, including India and the UK; possible routes for the marine transport of evacuees; accommodation arrangements; the division of costs between Imperial and Indian revenues; the appointment of a Civil Embarkation Officer; the international situation, and the likelihood of an Italian attack against Aden; and plans for possible Admiralty control over merchant shipping in the Mediterranean, in the event of the outbreak of war. The file also contains information about the evacuation plans for Malta.

Folios 60-70 comprise a copy of the 'Draft scheme for the evacuation of Women and Children from Aden in the event of Aden being within the War Zone', with Appendices: I, Public Notice of Evacuation; II, Counter Foil Emergency Evacuation Tickets; III sample Passenger List table.

Folios 71-76 comprise minutes of a meeting held at P&O House to discuss the evacuation scheme, attended by the Civil Embarkation Officer (Captain A Messenger of the P&O Steam Navigation Company), plus representatives of the main shipping firms operating in Aden: Messrs Luke Thomas & Co.; Cory Bros & Co.; the Anglo-Iranian Oil Co.; and Cowasjee Dinshaw & Bros.

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the end of the correspondence (folio 1).

Extent and format

1 file (234 folios)

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in rough chronological order, from the rear to the front of the file

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 234; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top centre of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/L/PS/12/1501

Former external reference(s)

Coll 1/63

History of this record

Date(s)

19 Sep 1935-25 Aug 1936 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Air raid precautionsEvacuation of civilians

Places

Malta

People & organisations

Colonial OfficeAir MinistryGovernment of India, Foreign and Political DepartmentBoard of Trade, Mercantile Marine DepartmentPolitical Resident, Aden

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Cite this record in your research

Coll 1/63 'Aden. Precautionary measures in view of Italo-Ethiopian dispute: scheme for evacuation of civilians from Aden in certain eventualities', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/1501, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000024> [accessed 19 April 2024]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000024

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