Skip to item: of 1,106
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

Coll 1/23 'Aden, Administration and Control: changes consequent on Indian Constitutional Charges; transfer to HMG' [‎44r] (92/1106)

The record is made up of 1 volume (551 folios). It was created in 24 Jan 1933-11 Jan 1934. 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. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

N
ON INDIAN CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
11
Cotifiiv
iytraa
o fan,,
it stoe
it to IS
heed tr
nsaiii
trajifi:
[ the k
e eoiS;
,et k;
his dek-
since 1»
Sir Pfc
; mih
s raids!
nore oi *
amep®
It ish*
tion. ^
India, t
iniaaii '
not sise.
20 3 Novembris. 1933.] Memorandum by Sir. Phiroze [Continued.
C. Sethna, O.B.E., *ON THE Future Constitution op Aden.
tortcrer
and it 3
leratioiF
an fith !
ent ot^
nistratii'
■ndffl^’
and
nted ® :li
lete ink
jtac* 11 -
ie 1^'
is
lie
onses «i l
nP^
ionsly^ 1
the trading communities of the places who are mainly Indians, Arabs and
Jews The total European population is about 500, of whom nearly 400 are
Greeks Italians and others. There are not more than 100 Britishers and only
si^hrms. Government invited the opinion of Indians. There has hardly ever
sJucn perfect unanimity been shown as in this case as is proved by the
decisions of the two Houses and which may rightly be taken as the decision
of the country at large. If Government flout this opinion, it will result m
much disaffection but what is worse is want of confidence m the assurances
of Government.
APPENDIX.
The Press communique of 20th June, 1933, was as follows.
His Majesty’s Government have recently received representations from
different communities among the inhabitants of Aden as well as from certain
quarters in India, expressing their various views m regard to the transfer
of the administration of Aden from the control of the Government of Int la
to His Majesty’s Government. The matter is one which is now receiving
the consideration of His Majesty’s Government and of the Government of
India in connection with the impending constitutional changes, lull oppor
tunity will be given for discussion in the India Legislative Chambers a
their next session and for all the interests concerned to state their views
Meanwhile, His Majesty’s Government think that it would be convenien
that the considerations which suggest the desirability of a transfer ot tne
administration and the conditions that would be entailed by such a trans ei
should be made known so that the problem can be discussed with a full
knowledge of the facts. T ^i-
The reasons which suggest that Aden should not remain linked with India
.under the new constitution are, that it is an area geographically remote
from India; that it would not naturally fit into the new federationthat
it is already to some extent under Imperial control, and that it is in
separable in practice from the Aden Protectorate, which has already passed
wholly out of Indian control. If it should be decided that the adminis
tration of Aden should be separated from that of India, His Majesty s
Government contemplate that the following conditions would be estab
lished:— , £
(1) India would be relieved of the annual contribution ot appioxi-
mately £150,000 sterling, or Its. 20 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , at present payable towards
the military and political administration. ,
(2) The right of appeal in judicial cases to the Bombay High Uourt
would be maintained. . r
(3) His Majesty’s Government wciuld maintain the existing policy
of making Aden a free port unless some radical change in the present
economic situation should take place. From their own point ot view
the abandonment of this policy would clearly m existing economic con
ditions be financially unsound, since the prosperity of Aden depends
largelv on its transit trade. .
(4) His Majestv’s Government would do their utmost to maintain the
present standard'of administration and would not impose any additional
taxation unless such a course became, in their opinion, absolutely
necessary. . .
(5) A proportion of Indian service administrative personnel wdiuid be
retained in Aden service for some years after transfer took place.
(6) No racial legislation or segregation would be permitted by Mis
Majesty’s Government.

About this item

Content

The volume contains extensive reports, memoranda and correspondence documenting discussions of the possible transfer of the civil administration of Aden from the Government of India to the Colonial Office. The primary authors and correspondents are 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 Aden Chief Commissioner, the Secretary of State for India, the Aden Standing Committee, the Viceroy, the Government of India Foreign and Political Department, and the Joint Committee on Indian Constitutional Reform.

The majority of this correspondence concerns the following: the formal debates in the Council of State and the Central Legislative Assembly; the opinions of the Indian and Aden populations, both for and against transfer to the Colonial Office; and the wording of official statements. Tensions between the UK Government of the Government of India are well documented throughout the file.

The volume also contains letters and petitions from Aden and Indian citizens, politicians and trade associations, communicating their concerns over the Salt Tariff, future taxation, and either the marginalisation or dominance of Indian interests. Reports and printed proceedings of the Council of State, Central Legislative Assembly, and Joint Foreign Committee on Indian Constitutional Reform can be found at folios 166-230, and 38-48.

The following points are discussed at length within the volume: the desire of the Colonial Office to effect transfer prior to Indian independence; the importance of Aden to British imperial defence and communications; the disadvantages if Aden were to be administered as part of a federated India; the possible financial and military role of the Government of India, should Aden transfer to the Colonial Office; the financial contribution made by India; the status of Indian citizens in Aden; the question of continued representation in the Bombay High Court for Aden citizens; the possibility of maintaining the preferential Salt tariff; Aden's free port status; the possible role for Indian Service Personnel in Aden; and the impact on Indian and Aden businesses under Colonial Office administration, particularly on the salt trade.

The volume includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references found within the volume by year. This is placed at the end of the correspondence (folio 4).

Extent and format
1 volume (551 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 551; 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.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

Coll 1/23 'Aden, Administration and Control: changes consequent on Indian Constitutional Charges; transfer to HMG' [‎44r] (92/1106), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/1459, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100035840269.0x00005d> [accessed 29 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100035840269.0x00005d">Coll 1/23 'Aden, Administration and Control: changes consequent on Indian Constitutional Charges; transfer to HMG' [&lrm;44r] (92/1106)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100035840269.0x00005d">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000517.0x0003b5/IOR_L_PS_12_1459_0092.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000517.0x0003b5/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image