IOR/L/PS/12/3304-3341

The Political (External) Collection 25: HM Orders in Council sub-series concerns the legislative machinery required for the British to exercise extra-territorial jurisdiction over British and foreign subjects in parts of the British Indian Empire. It largely consists of copies, drafts, and originals of correspondence between the India Office, Government of India (External Affairs Department), Political Residency in the Persian Gulf, and Foreign Office, as well as copies of any legislation in question. Interdepartmental correspondence from the Colonial Office, Treasury, Board of Trade, Home Office, and Air Ministry also features prominently. Communications with other British political and diplomatic offices in the region are also present.

Themes and subjects covered by the files include the following:

• The passing of, and amendments to, Orders in Council for Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Trucial Coast, Muscat, Persian Coast and Islands, Ethiopia, and China (Kashgar)
• Annual reports on the working of the Orders
• Functional and administrative matters relating to the legislation and court procedures
• Legislation concerning special police forces, motoring regulation, passport regulation, the traffic of pearls, marriage registration, and customs
• Emergency legislation during the Second World War
• The surrender of extraterritorial rights in Morocco.

In addition to correspondence the sub-series includes minutes, reports, and manuscript notes.

IOR/L/PS/12/3323 is missing and has thus not been catalogued to intermediate level.