Coll 1/25 'Aden Protectorate boundaries; inclusion of the Hadhramaut' [‎39v] (78/96)

6
C.O. to A.M. 21 Jan,
1928, C. 59264 28,
No. 17.
P. 217/28. C.O. to
I.O. 13 Jan. 1928,
48035/27. I.O. to
C.O. 23 Jan. 1928.
Government of India, in the shape of a Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , or Governor,
preferably a civilian. The Governor, who would have with him a military
officer to command and administer the troops, should he responsible to
the Imperial Government in all political and military matters, and to
Government of India only for the internal municipal administratioi™!
the Settlement of Aden, which would continue on the same basis as it'
the Settlement had remained part of British India. The Governor should
have the titular rank of Oommander-in-Chief, as is customary elsewhere,
it being understood that the possession of this title will not confer on him
any right to give executive orders to the troops. The Officer Commanding
the Troops should be appointed by the War Office after consultation with
the Colonial Office. He should communicate direct with the War Office
on questions of intelligence, training and preparation for war, as well as
on matters affecting the routine administration of the troops. We
recommend that this arrangement should take effect from 1st April 1927
as regards finance, and as regards administration as soon after that date
as practicable.
“ ‘ 12. This arrangement would secure Imperial control in all essential
matters, but leave India the satisfaction of retaining Aden as part of India
and still controlling the civil affairs of the Settlement, including its
resident Indian population. In view of this we consider that India should
be prepared to contribute towards the military and political charges a
sum of £250,000 a year for three years, and after that £150,000 a year,
or one-third of any total cost (including the cost of any Air Force units
at Aden) whichever is the lesser figure.
‘“10. We consider that the responsibility for the political and military
administration of Aden should be vested primarily in the Secretary of
State for the Colonies, and that Imperial expenditure in connection with
Aden should be borne on the Middle Eastern Vote. The military
expenditure will in the first instance be borne by the War Office, subject
to reimbursement from the Middle Eastern Vote.’ ”
(77m Chancellor of the Exchequer demurred from this decision of
principle being taken before it was known whether the two inquiries
referred to below will achieve compensating economies in expenditure from
British funds.)
“ (6) That the Lord Chancellor should arbitrate on the claim of the War Office
set forth in C.P. 414 (26), para. 15, that from the date on which the new
increases to Imperial charges come into force (1st April 1927) the payment
to India of a subsidy of £130,000 for sea transport out of Army Funds
should be discontinued.
“ (c) That the Committee of Chiefs of Staff should be instructed that the Cabinet
desire that the defence of Aden should be reduced to a less costly basis, and
should be asked to advise the Committee of Imperial Defence as to whether
this can be effected without undue risks by an addition at Aden of a
squadron of the Royal xYir Force, combined with the withdrawal and
disbandment of the British Infantry Battalion at present stationed there,
or by any other means.”
20. It was decided early in 1928 that the responsibility for the defence organisation
at Aden should be transferred from the War Office to the Air Ministry, and a
Royal Air Force officer was appointed in April 1928 to assume the command and
administration of the troops in the garrison.
21. During the following year steps were taken to implement the Cabinet
decision by correspondence between 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. and the Colonial Office, but
little material result was attained, and in January 1928 a Standing Committee,
consisting of representatives of the Colonial Office, 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. , Air Ministry and
Treasury, was formed to make definite recommendations for giving effect to the
decision. The Committee was under the Chairmanship of Mr. A. J. Harding, C.M.G.,
C.B.E., Assistant Secretary in the Middle East Department of the Colonial Office,
who was succeeded by Mr. H. R. Cowell, C.M.G., in October 1928. Mr. J. G.
Laithwaite was appointed as the permanent representative of the Secretary of State
for India on the Committee.
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