"ولايات الجزيرة العربية السبعة المستقلة [اليمن، عسير، الحجاز، نجد، الكويت، جبل شمر، الجوف]" [ظ‎‎١‎٦] (٦٨٠/٣٢)

f 1 nvernment of India, in the shape of a Political Resident or Governor,
Cjovernme■ The Governor> w ho would have with him a mihtarv
P ffi pr a to command and administer the troops should be responsible to
?he Imperial Government in all political and military matters, and to tb e
Pnvtrnment of India only for the internal munic.pal admmistration of
^ o m i .ant of Aden which would continue on the same basis as if
have the titular rank of Commander -in -Chief, as is customary elsewhere,
it being understood that the possession of th.s title w ,l not confer on nm
• v.f in oivp executive orders to the troops, ihe Officer Commandiug
th! Troops should be appointed by the War Office after consultation with
i p Colonial Office. He should communicate direct with the War Otlice
on ouestions of intelligence, training and preparation for war, as well as
n.attprs ■iffectino- the routine administration of the troops. We
recommend that this arrangement should take effect from 1st April 1927
as regards linance, and as regards administration as soon aftei that date
as practicable. i • n
c ^9 r phis arrangement would secure Impeiial contiol m all esSfiutial
matters but leave India the satisfaction of retaining Aden as part of Judia
mid still controlling the civil affairs of the Settlement, including its
resident Indian population. In view of this we consider that India should
be prepared to contribute towards the military and political charges a
sum of £^50 000 a year for three years, and alter that £100,000 a year,
or one -third of any total cost (including the cost of any Air Force units
at Aden) whichever is the lesser figure.
" 4 16. We consider that the responsibility for the political and military
administration of Aden should be vested primarily in the Secretary pf
State for the Colonies, and that Imperial expenditure in connection with
Aden should be borne on the Middle iLastein A ote. J hb military
expenditure will in the first instance be borne bv the W ar OtHce, subject
to reimbursement from the Middle iLastern \ ote.
(The Chancellor of the Exchequer demurred from this decision oj
principle being taken before it was known whether the two inquiries
referred to below will achieve compensating economies in expenditure from
British funds.)
u (h) That the Lord Chancellor should arbitrate on the claim of the War Office
set forth in C.P. -ill (^6), para. 15, that from the date on which the new
increases to Imperial charges come into force (1st April 1927) the payment
to India of a subsidy of £130,000 for sea transport out of Army Funds
should be discontinued.
" (c) That the Committee of Chiefs of Staff should be instructed that the Cabinet
desire that the defence of Aden should be reduced to a less costly basis, and
should be asked to advise the Committee of Imperial Defence as to whether
this can be effected without undue risks by an addition at Aden of a
squadron of the Royal Air Force, combined with the withdrawal and
disbandment of the British Infantry Battalion at present stationed there,
or by any other means."
20. It was decided early in 1928 that the responsibility for the defence organisation
at Aden should be transferred from the War Office to the Air Ministry, and a
Royal Air Force officer was appointed in April 1928 to assume the command and
administration of the troops in the garrison.
21. During the following year steps were taken to implement the Cabinet
decision by correspondence between the India Office and the Colonial Office, but
little material result was attained, and in January 1928 a Standing Committee,
consisting of representatives of the Colonial Office, India Office, Air Ministry and
Treasury, was formed to make definite recommendations for giving effect to the
decision. The Committee was under the Chairmanship of Mr. A. J. Harding, C.M.O.,
C.B.E., Assistant Secretary in the Middle East Department of the Colonial Office,
who was succeeded by Mr. H. R. Cowell, C.M.G., in October 1928. Mr. J. 0.
Laithwaite was appointed as the permanent representative of the Secretary of State
for India on the Committee.