IOR/L/PS/12/1452

The file contains papers regarding the Arab-Jewish disturbances which took place in the Aden Settlement on the 23-25 May 1932. The disturbances occurred following the alleged defilement of a mosque.

The file contains reports and internal memos, plus correspondence between: the Aden Resident; the Secretary of State for the Colonies; the Group Captain Commanding British Forces in Aden (Owen Tudor Boyd); the Commandant of Police, Aden (R H Haslam); the India Office Political Department; and the Air Ministry. These papers cover: the cause of the riots; the actions taken by the police and the Aden Protectorate Levies to quell the rioting; the strength of the police force and the armed units; the role of the Aden Protectorate Levies; Arab-Jewish sentiment within the Aden Settlement; the influence of the situation in Palestine; and compensation claims issued on behalf of Jewish businesses.

The file also contains correspondence and petitions received from a number of Jewish organisations and individuals, including the following: the Joint Foreign Committee (the Joint Committee of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Anglo-Jewish Association); the Young Men's Hebrew Association of Aden; the American Jewish Congress; the Association of Aden Jews in Palestine; Josiah C Wedgwood MP; and Leonard G Montefiore, President of the Anglo-Jewish Association. The correspondence concerns: eyewitness reports of the rioting; discussion of the arrangements to ensure the safety of Jewish residents in Aden; discussion of the make-up of the Aden Police; whether compensation claims could be made against the Government of India for damage sustained during the rioting; and petitions made on behalf of members of the Jewish community who were deported to Lahej.

Folios 2-10 consist of telegrams sent by the Aden Chief Secretary (Sir Reginald Champion) to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, regarding the disturbances in December 1947 following a demonstration against the partition of Palestine. The telegrams contain information on the declaration of a State of Emergency, and the arrival of British troops.

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 one).