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Coll 1/67 'Aden. Changes in administration in the event of separation from India: miscellaneous questions' [‎42r] (83/769)

The record is made up of 1 file (384 folios). It was created in 2 Jun 1936-15 Nov 1937. It was written in English. The original is part of the 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. .

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ADEN
PAPERS RELATING
to the
QUESTION OF TRANSFER
1933 .
17960/33 [No. Ij.
No. 1.
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. to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Very Secret.) 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. , Whitehall,
Sir, London, S.W.l, 2nd February, 1933.
I am directed by the Secretary of State for India to say that in connexion with
the forthcoming constitutional legislation he has had under consideration the question
of the future of Aden, and that he has thought it desirable to invite the views of the
Government of India on the question of taking steps to separate the Settlement from
India.
2. To enable them to consider the question further the Government of India
are anxious for an indication of the views of His Majesty’s Government on the follow
ing five points. They ask whether in the event of separation His Majesty’s Govern
ment would be prepared to—
(a) relieve India of the contribution at present paid towards the military and
political administration;
(b) maintain the policy of making Aden a free port;
(c) assume liability for the difference between revenue and administrative
charges without imposing additional taxation or reducing the standard of
administration. The present difference, on the basis of figures for 1929-30
to 1931-32, averages about £2,000 per annum, but will probably be more
than covered by additional income tax receipts from certain Aden firms
which now pay all their income tax in India instead of Aden;
(d) retain a proportion of Indian Service administrative personnel in Aden
service for some years after transfer takes place;
(e) agree to the retention of the right of appeal in judicial cases to the Bombay
High Court, if this is found to be administratively and legally possible.
3. The Secretary of State would suggest that the simplest course would be that
the Government of India’s inquiries should be considered in the Standing Aden Com
mittee at the earliest possible date, and if Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister agrees he would
suggest that a meeting might be arranged, if possible, on Monday, 6th February. The
Government of India are committed to consulting the Indian Legislature and the
interests concerned before any action can be taken in regard to the future of Aden,
and since it is important to reach a decision in time for its annoimcement, if necessary,
as part of the proposals of His Majesty’s Government on Indian Constitutional ques
tions which are to be laid before Parliament in the course of the spring, it is, as will
be appreciated, of the first importance to clear the ground with the minimum of delay.
4. Copies of this letter are being sent to the Treasury, Air Ministry, Admiralty,
and War Office.
I am, &c.,
J. C. WALTON.

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Content

The file contains correspondence, memoranda and reports regarding administrative changes to be made upon the transfer of Aden from the Government of India to the Colonial Office. The file consists primarily of correspondence between: the Aden Chief Commissioner (Bernard Reilly); 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; and the Government of India Home, Foreign and Political, Finance, and Reforms Departments.

The file has been divided into the following bundles:

  • 1. Memoranda, ff 5-73;
  • 2. Flag, ff 74-79;
  • 3. New buildings, ff 80-86;
  • 4. Pension rights of Indian personnel, ff 87-95;
  • 5. Personnel, ff 96-184;
  • 6. Judicial and Revenue Stamps, ff 185-910;
  • 7. Position of Consuls, ff 191-197;
  • 8. Printing Press, ff 198-203;
  • 9. Provident Fund, ff 204-210;
  • 10. Application of international treaties and extradition conventions, motor vehicles (international rules), ff 211-325;
  • 11. Future financial arrangements in regard to salt, income tax, supply of opium etc., ff 326-384.

The bundle titled 'Memoranda' contains a copy of Reilly's 'Note on Fourteen Points connected with the Transfer of Aden from the Government of India to the Colonial Office, discussed at the Foreign Office in 1933', plus a copy of Aden. Question of Transfer. Papers, 1933 (Middle East No. 50), and related correspondence.

The bundle titled 'Personnel' concerns the issue of retaining Indian administrative personnel at Aden following the transfer, on their existing terms of service, for a period of five years. The correspondence also concerns the position of the District and Sessions Judge, which upon transfer would change to become Judge of the Supreme Court of Aden; the appointment of James Taylor Lawrence to the post upon the retirement of G B Constantine is discussed.

The bundle titled 'Provident Fund' concerns the creation of a new General Provident Fund at Aden upon transfer. Reilly proposes that the Government of India transfer over to Aden any monies standing to the credit of Indian service personnel retained permanently; the Government of India propose that the monies should be cancelled out against the value of buildings, civil debt and pecuniary liabilities etc. involved in the transfer.

The bundle titled 'International Treaties' concerns the applicability to Aden, upon transfer, of various international agreements, and discusses the need to formally notify foreign governments of the change. Folios 297-321 include lists of treaties, conventions etc. which applied to both India and Burma, drawn up upon the separation of Burma in 1935. Extradition treaties and international motor agreements are discussed in particular detail.

The bundle titled 'Future Financial Arrangements' contains notes on budget administration, financial management, the issue of the salt tax, income tax, customs arrangements, and the importation and control of opium and other regulated substances. Draft estimates based on the figures of revenue and expenditure for the years 1932-1935 are included at folios 371-383.

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 2).

Extent and format
1 file (384 folios)
Arrangement

The file has been divided into eleven bundles, according to subject. Within the bundles, materials are arranged in rough chronological order, from the rear to the front.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 384; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The back of the external cover has not been foliated.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 1/67 'Aden. Changes in administration in the event of separation from India: miscellaneous questions' [‎42r] (83/769), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/1505, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100032999346.0x000056> [accessed 19 April 2024]

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