File 3816/1916 'Persia. As to allowing English ladies to proceed to Persia' [‎182r] (373/553)

CONFIDENTIAL, {For Office use only.)
Memorandum as to the Restrictions on Women and
Children Travelling by Sea to India.
1. Scope of the Memorandum —It seems desirable to review briefly the
situation resulting from the orders restricting the travelling of women and
children by sea to India, the more so as the season is now approaching when
the number of persons wishing to go to India is rapidly increasing.
Though the scope of the Memorandum is thus limited, the matter dealt
wdth is part of the much wider problem of sea communication between the
different parts of the Empire, and the governing factor is its temporary
interruption by the action of the King’s enemies.
2. Origin of the Orders as to Restriction. —As early as the spring of
1916 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. began to warn passengers as to the risks of the sea
journey to India (M. 47288/16). Later, the grant of Government passages
to military families was • suspended (M. 49377/16). Then it was urged that
all British ships should lie prohibited from carrying women and children
through the Mediterranean l M. 52412/16). Lastly, on the 5th February
1917, at the instance of the Board of Irade after consultation with othei
Departments, the Secretary of State telegraphed to the Government of India
that women and children should not be allowed to travel through any danger
zone unless for certain urgent reasons (the nature of which was briefly
indicated : M. 4432/17). The Colonial Office went further still, and informed
the Dominions, Colonies and Protectorates that no women or children should
be allowed to travel through danger zones (M. 6491/17). The whole matter
was then reconsidered at the instance of the Admiralty (J. and P., 1228/17),
and in the result rules were drawn up for the Empire in a final form as
shown in the telegram that follows (J. and P., 1316/17)-
“ Telegram {paraphrase) from Secretary of State to I iceroy, Army
Department, dated 31st March 1917.
“ Following rules regarding passports for women supersede my telegram
of 5th February :—
“ (l) Except in very urgent cases, such as war work, or unless there can
be shown exceptionally urgent health, domestic or business reasons, passports
for women and children through danger zones will not be granted.
“ (2) Women and children who arrive at. a port en route elsewhere will
be warned of the risk but allowed to proceed. _ .
“ (3) Permission to proceed abroad will not be given to wives and families
merelv because an official appointment is held by husband. _ .
u (4) Subject to first rule,'at ports within the British Empire including
India, the decision as to passports rests with the Governor or officer deputes
by him, but except in cases of great emergency, permission to travel tnrough
the Mediterranean should not be given at present, and generally, ol any
alternative routes, the safer should be adopted. ... . j • u
“ x re i y 0 n Your Excellency to ensure that first rule is interpreted strictly.
Similar attitude being adopted by Colonial Office. .
It was settled in correspondence with the M ar Office ana k dmiialU
that “ strictness rather than leniency ” should be the gniding principle (War
Office letter to Admiralty, 5th April 1917, J. and P. Io02/17), and the Foieign
Office enjoined on His Majesty’s representatives abroad that the first rule
should be “ very strictly interpreted ” (Circular Telegram of _nd April 1J17,
J. and P. 1502/17).
3 Administration of the Rides.—These rules are administered by the
granting or withholding of passports for persons desiring to go to India.
Technically the Foreign Office is the Passport Authority, but m practice the
22694 I 980 100 7/17