Coll 1/49 'Aden. Administration and control: changes consequent on Indian constitutional reforms; transfer to HMG' [‎446v] (901/968)

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RECORDS OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE
20° Novembris, 1933.] Memorandum by Sir Phiroze [Continued.
C. Sethna, O.B.E., on the Future Constitution of Aden.
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administration was made without our consent and without our knowledge
hut India is a member of the great British Empire and for that reason we
no longer press for the return to this country of what is already transferred
in the way of the political and military administration. So far as tke
civil administration is concerned we protest and protest most stoutly for
the reasons I have endeavoured to place before the Council.
“ I do hope, Sir, that Government will accede to our wishes and keep
the civil administration with the Government of India or if necessary with
the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. . It is one thing for Government to ask for
our opinion and quite another if Government do not give heed to that
opinion. We do hope that the Leader of the House will give us an assur
ance that if the view held by the Legislature is against the transfer that
Government will consider itself bound to respect the wishes of the Legisla
ture and their wishes are what is practically desired by the country at
large.”
Several members followed and I quote a pertinent extract from the
speech of the Honourable Mr. B. K. Basu. It is as follows: —
“Sir, the real excuse that I have for intervening in this debate is
that I am suffering, from some intellectual tortures ever since I read
this communique. First, as was very ably traversed by Sir Phiroze
Sethna, I find the words ‘ geographically remote ’ giving me one of
those tortures because when I find that we have places under the
administration of the Government of India which are more or less,
shall I say fortunately or unfortunately, placed in the same position
as Aden. Take, for example, the island of Andamans. It is in the
very same inconvenient or convenient geographical position. Geo
graphically, the Andamans is nearer to Ceylon than to India. Why
does not the Colonial Government say, ‘ Give us the Andamans?’ We
will be glad to make a present of it to them; we would not stand in
their way. Secondly, the commmnique says that Aden will not naturally
fit into the new federation. Here again the question tortures me.
How can the Andamans be fitted into the federation, and if the
Andamans can be fitted into the contemplated Indian federation why
cannot Aden be fitted in; it is not very difficult; if you can fit in the
one, you can fit in the other.”
Government members did not vote. The non-official members both elected
and nominated, supported the motion and it was adopted.
On 16th September, 1933, Sir Joseph Bhore, the Leader of the House
in the Legislative Assembly, also moved, “ That the Government of India
communique, dated 20th June, 1933, regarding the future administration of
Aden be taken into consideration.” There were several amendments on
the Order Paper. The discussion did not end on that day and was re
sumed on 18th September, 1933, when the following substituted motion
was adopted, Government members not voting: —
“ While recording their emphatic protest against the complete transfer
to the Colonial Office of Aden Settlement which has for about a century
been an integral part of British Indian administration, the Assembly
requests the Governor-General in Council to convey to His Majesty’s
Government the strong desire of the people of India that the proposed
transfer should not take place.”
Since the passing of the above two resolutions in the two Houses of the
Indian Legislature, there have been more meetings held in Aden protesting
against the proposed transfer. The proposed transfer will seriously affect
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