IOR/L/PS/12/1459

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 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).