IOR/L/PS/12/1501

The file contains papers regarding the preparation of a scheme for the evacuation of civilians from Aden, in the event of the outbreak of hostilities between Italy and Britain.

The file primarily consists of correspondence between the Aden Resident, the India Office Political Department, the Colonial Office, the Air Ministry, Government of India Foreign and Political Department, the War Office, and the Mercantile Marine Department of the Board of Trade. There are also excerpts of minutes from the Committee of Imperial Defence Sub-Committee on Defence Policy and Requirements.

The following topics are discussed: the categorisation of the dependents of European and Indian officials and non-officials, plus other inhabitants; the capacity for commercial maritime traffic to transport evacuees; the proposed destinations for evacuees, including India and the UK; possible routes for the marine transport of evacuees; accommodation arrangements; the division of costs between Imperial and Indian revenues; the appointment of a Civil Embarkation Officer; the international situation, and the likelihood of an Italian attack against Aden; and plans for possible Admiralty control over merchant shipping in the Mediterranean, in the event of the outbreak of war. The file also contains information about the evacuation plans for Malta.

Folios 60-70 comprise a copy of the 'Draft scheme for the evacuation of Women and Children from Aden in the event of Aden being within the War Zone', with Appendices: I, Public Notice of Evacuation; II, Counter Foil Emergency Evacuation Tickets; III sample Passenger List table.

Folios 71-76 comprise minutes of a meeting held at P&O House to discuss the evacuation scheme, attended by the Civil Embarkation Officer (Captain A Messenger of the P&O Steam Navigation Company), plus representatives of the main shipping firms operating in Aden: Messrs Luke Thomas & Co.; Cory Bros & Co.; the Anglo-Iranian Oil Co.; and Cowasjee Dinshaw & Bros.

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 1).