IOR/L/PS/12/2216

Papers relating to the activities of Charles St John Collier (1880-1944) in Afghanistan. The file primarily comprises correspondence between the India Office, the Foreign Office, and HM Minister Kabul, on the following topics:

• Collier's arrival in Jedda en route to Afghanistan, where he intended to negotiate the sale of coal briquetting equipment, and arms of Greek, American and Spanish manufacture. Collier also contacted HM Minister at Jedda to enquire as to whether there was any objection to supplying arms of Greek manufacture to Ibn Sa'ūd.
• Collier's past business dealings, including his role as Governor of the Bank of Abyssinia, and later Manager of the Bank of Ethiopia.
• Collier's reputation, and conflicts with the Foreign Office over his friendship with Haile Selassie (1892-1975, Emperor of Ethiopia).
• Collier's proposal to establish an agency in Kabul.
• Measures taken by the Foreign Office to prevent Collier from travelling to Djibouti, French Somaliland or Egypt.

The file contains correspondence between Collier, his secretary (his sister E F Collier), and N G Dracopoulos, regarding the arms available from Greek, American and Spanish firms, and arrangements for their purchase. It also contains correspondence between Collier, the Foreign Office and the India Office, regarding his offer to serve in the Indian Army. Collier was ultimately denied a special commission due to his age. The file closes with a copy of an obituary of Collier which appeared in The Times on 19 September 1944.

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).