'Memoirs and Recollections of An Officer of the Indian Political Service' [‎69r] (137/156)

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In the early days nothing was supplied to us from either Delhi or London in the shape
of office equipment, so I bought typewriters, office furniture and even stationery. I
should perhaps mention here that ail over India, suitable furniture for European bunga
lows could be obtained locally on hire from local firms, so I was spared this worry.
Eventually, but after long delays, the British Ministry of Works furnished and equipped
whatever accommodation was occupied by members of the expatriate staff.
During the six weeks that I was in Karachi, before the crucial 15th August date, I flew
back once or twice to New Delhi to report, and to get in touch with my family who-were
still in Simla. I also paid a last farewell visit to my friendsin the Political
Department. My chief, Sir Conrad Corfield, the Viceroy's Political Advisor, had returned
for good to England. He had not seen eye to eye with the Viceroy. Cecil Griffin (later
Sir), the Political Secretary, was in charge - a wonderful man descended from a family
which had long and illustrious connections with India. As a parting gift, which I
treasure to this day, he gave me the seven volumes allotted to the Political Secretary
for his personal use, of 'Tuppers Political Practice' - a highly confidential compilation
of decided cases affecting Indian States and their relations with the British Crown. I
have often been asked whether, during my last days in the Political Department, I had ever
received instructions from my seniors for the destruction of confidential files which
it was considered undesirable to hand over to either of the two successor Governments.
The answer is that I have no knowledge of any such instructions, nor did I myself give
orders for the destruction of specific files.
Of the remaining IPS The branch of the British Government of India with responsibility for managing political relations between British-ruled India and its surrounding states, and by extension the Gulf, during the period 1937-47. Officers in the Political Department, three were leaving for England,
but my friend Terence Craigh-Coen, the other Deputy Secretary, had decided to accept
an offer from the Muslim politician who had been chosen to be Pakistan's first Foreign
Minister to come to Karachi to set up that Government's Foreign Office and Service.
He was busy recruiting from fellow IPS The branch of the British Government of India with responsibility for managing political relations between British-ruled India and its surrounding states, and by extension the Gulf, during the period 1937-47. Officers, a number of people who, like him, were
prepared to take temporary employment with the new Government.
Just before the final transfer of power, Sir Lawrence Grafftey-Smith, KBE, the newly
appointed UK High Commissioner in Pakistan, arrived in Karachi to take up his appoint
ment. He was a senior Foreign Service officer, with a wealth of experience in the
Middle East. U.K. Deputy High Commissioners were also appointed in the interior of the
new country; Hugh Stevensons, I.C.S. (Later Sir Hugh, G.C.M.G. [Knight] Grand Cross of [the Order of] St Michael and St George (accolade). ) to Lahore, Charles
k
Duke, I.P.S. (later Sir Charles K.C.M.G.) to Peshawar, and James Corfe-Wallis I.P.S. to
Dacca in East Pakistan. The staff at Karachi was also brought up to strength. Colonel
R.R. Burnett, C.S.I., C.I.E., until recently Resident in Rajputana became Deputy High
Commissioner, and he was followed by four more First Secretaries, all of them ex-members
of the All India Services; two came from the I.C.S. and two from the I.P.S. In addition,