Abstract: The file contains a small amount of correspondence regarding a – rebuffed – request made by the Italian Government for assistance from HM Minister at Tehran (Horace James Seymour) in securing the consent of the Iranian authorities for an air service between Rome and Tehran.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 7; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file contains correspondence and related papers concerning the development of civil aviation in Persia (referred to as Iran from 1935), its primary focus being the activities of the German company Junkers. The file covers negotiations surrounding the grant of a five year concession to Junkers in 1927 for the provision of internal air services within Persia, and the failed negotiations surrounding an attempt by the Company to renew the agreement in 1932. It therefore also contains correspondence about the subsequent withdrawal of Junkers from Persia, and subsequent attempts by Luft Hansa to replace Junkers. Correspondence in the file also discusses a proposal from Imperial Airways to establish a Trans-Persian route between the United Kingdom (UK) and India; this is mainly related to whether the experience of Junkers should be allowed to discourage this proposal.To a lesser extent the file also covers the establishment of air mail and passenger services between Tehran and Baghdad; this ranges from a initial proposal from Airworks Limited in 1932 to the eventual establishment of a service by Iranian State Airways in 1938. Also briefly discussed is a proposal — briefly advanced by the North West Indian Trading Company — from Captain Louis Murphy in 1926 for the establishment of an air service between Duzdap [Zahedan] and Meshed [Mashhad]: see folios 155-9.The French content includes a draft contract between the Government of Persia and Junkers dated June 1925 (see folios 205-16), a copy of the final contract (see folios 139v-143) dated 9 February 1926, and a copy of a notice on changes to Junkers' Persian air services dated 17 October 1931. Occasional extracts can also be found in French.The main correspondents are as follows: HM Minister at Tehran, officials of the Air Ministry, and officials of the Foreign Office. The correspondence is periodically forwarded to the Under-Secretary of State for India by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 285; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top centre of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file predominantly consists of correspondence between HM Ambassador to Egypt (Sir Miles Wedderburn Lampson) and the Foreign Office, with significant input from the Air Ministry. The subject matter is Britain's policy towards the development of civil aviation in Egypt; British policy being to restrict the influence of non Anglo-Egyptian companies and governments, with developments in Italian and German aviation being of particular concern. A policy given particular attention is a suggestion for closer collaboration between Imperial Airways and Misr Airwork, with a view to reserving local short-haul traffic for the latter firm. A couple of memoranda prepared on the topic by Group Captain Reginald John Bone, Director-General of Civil Aviation under the Egyptian Government, can be found on folios 91-93 and 136-139.A note outlining an informal meeting between Sir Francis Claude Shelmerdine of the Air Ministry and Mohamed Taher Pasha, Vice-President of Misr Airwork, at the House of Commons in July 1937 can be found between folios 23-27. Also included in the file is a letter from Kamal Eloui Bey, Managing Director of Misr Airwork, to Frederick Alan Irving Muntz dated 19 June 1937: see folios 29-33. A letter from George Beharrell, Chairman of Imperial Airways, addressed to the Foreign Office and dated 1 July 1937, can be found on folio 35.The correspondence included in the file has been periodically forwarded to the Under-Secretary of State for India by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in order to keep the India Office updated on developments; none of the correspondence in the file is directly addressed to the India Office.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 147; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file is concerned with a proposal to link Imperial Airways Services and those of the Eurasia Aviation Corporation and/or China National Airways at the Burma-Chinese frontier, in consideration of establishing a more direct link to Hong Kong. The file therefore contains occasional references to political developments within China, and her diplomatic relations with Japan. The file also includes correspondence regarding an aviation agreement signed between France and Siam [Thailand], and related agreements between the British and Siamese Governments.More direct routes are also explored in the file, in particular a route via the Southern Shan States and French Indo-China. A report by Frederick Tymms, Director of Civil Aviation in India, on a reconnaissance flight between 25 and 26 April 1937 has been included: see folios 165-168. For the conclusions of the survey: see folios 190-192. An appended report on the landing ground at Loikaw can be found on folios 169-171. Three maps accompany the report: see folios 172-173 and 193.For further information a copy of a report by Georges Winckler of an exhibition through Laos and Upper Burma between 8 and 17 February 1936 has also been filed: see folios 174-186. The purpose of Winckler's exhibition was to explore the possibilities of a direct route between France and French Indo-China [Vietnam].An additional sketch map outlining possible overland routes between Burma and Hong Kong can be found on folio 260.The main correspondents are officials of the Air Ministry, the Foreign Office, and the India Office. A significant amount of correspondence with the Government of India – Department of External Affairs and the Department of Industries and Labour – and correspondence with numerous British representatives across Burma, China, and Siam, have also been included.The French language content consists of a single letter (folios 253-254) from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated 10 March 1936.The file includes three dividers (folios 2, 95, and 131) which gives a list of correspondence references contained in that section of the file by year.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 364; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is present between ff 4-94 and is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Abstract: The file contains papers related to a number of unsuccessful attempts to establish civil aviation services between Afghanistan and India. The file includes related policy discussion over the use of Lend-Lease aircraft supplied by the United States, as a result of wartime proposals. It also includes intelligence report of rival negotiations between the Government of Afghanistan and competing powers: Germany, the Soviet Union (USSR), and the United States.The file also discusses India's post-war civil aviation plans: see folios 122-131. An Indian Delegation sent to Kabul in May 1947 is the predominant topic between folios 7-58: see folios 15-24 for a detailed report on this mission. Folio 318v contains a list of Germans employed in Kabul in 1938.The main correspondents are as follows: HM Minister at Kabul (William Kerr Fraser-Tytler and Giles Frederick Squire), officials of the Foreign Office, officials of the India Office, and representatives of the External Affairs Department of the Government of India.The file does not include any papers for the years 1940 and 1942.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 337; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file is concerned with an application from Petroleum Concessions Limited for a general permission to operate aircraft within Qatar and the wider Persian Gulf; under the Qatar Oil Concession the company was required to seek permission from the Shaikh of Qatar for each flight. There is also correspondence related to a proposal from the Petroleum Development (Qatar) Limited to establish a landing ground near its camp at Jebel Dukhan in western Qatar.The main correspondents are as follows: the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, the Political Agent at Bahrain, and officials of the India Office. It also contains letters from representatives of Petroleum Concessions Limited and Petroleum Concessions (Qatar) Limited.The file does not contain any papers from 1938, and the years 1940-1944.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 56; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Abstract: The file contains papers related to opportunities for supplying British aircraft to Nepal. Most of these papers relate to an enquiry in 1945, instigated by the Nepalese Minister in London, over the possibility of purchasing de Havilland Dominie and Percival Proctor aircraft.The main correspondents are HM Minister at Nepal (Geoffrey Lawrence Betham and George Arthur Falconer) and representatives of the Government of India.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 37; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file contains papers related to the renewal of the Sharjah Commercial Air Agreement in 1943, and subsequent increases to the subsidy paid to the Shaikh of Sharjah under the agreement and changes to accommodation requirements for both the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and the Royal Air Force (RAF). It also contains correspondence related to the withdrawal of BOAC services from Sharjah in 1947, and discussion as to whether to amend or abandon the agreement as a result. The decision to renew the agreement in 1948 is documented by minutes of an inter-departmental meeting held on 16 March 1948: see folios 11-12.A number of statements of payments made to the Shaikh of Sharjah under the Air Agreement for the periods April 1945 to August 1946 and December 1946 to November 1947 were submitted to the India Office by the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf: see folios 15, 18, 21, 39, 64, 75, 92, and 107. A list of buildings required at Sharjah by the RAF as of 1947 can be found on folios 24-28.The main correspondents are as follows: the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Charles Geoffrey Prior and William Rupert Hay), officials of the Air Ministry (M W Low), officials of the India Office (from August 1947 the Commonwealth Relations Office; Roland Tennyson Peel, Eion Pelly Donaldson, Francis Anthony Kitchener Harrison), officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (H Jones and R C Bloodworth), and representatives of the External Affairs Department of the Government of India.The title of the file contains an error: the British Overseas Airways Corporation is mistakenly referred to as BAOC instead of BOAC.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 128; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file contains papers related to developments in post-war civil aviation. It contains correspondence related to the stance to be taken by Commonwealth countries in preparation for the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. The file also contains a set of papers submitted by Albert Rope, Secretary General to the International Commission for Air Navigation (ICAN): see folios 82-93. This submission outlines the activities, history, and organisation of ICAN, and makes the case that it should continue to regulate international aviation following the close of the Second World War (1939-1945).Two publications have been included in the file:ff 3-26:
Procedures for Air Navigation Services: Communication Orders (COM), printed Montreal (1947) by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).ff 43-74:
International Civil Aviation Conference: Part 1; Final Act and Appendices I-V, Chicago, 7December 1944, printed in London (1945) by HM Stationery Office.The main correspondents are officials of the India Office and representatives of the Posts and Air Department of the Government of India.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 129; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file contains papers related to the position of the Gulf States – Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Bahrain, Dubai, Kalba, Kuwait, Ra's al-Khaymah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Qaywayn – under the Convention on International Civil Aviation (1946), also known as the Chicago Convention. Much of the correspondence is concerned with whether the signature of the United Kingdom (UK) on the Convention can be said to cover these states, and whether the UK can or should assume the responsibility of managing civil aviation matters on their behalf. It also considers whether the UK should represent the Sultan of Muscat and Oman.The file also contains correspondence related to the deputation of Maurice Patrick O'Connor Tandy, Kuwait Political Agent, to Cairo for a meeting of the Middle East region of the Provisional International Civil Aviation Organization (PICAO) in October 1946. The file is also concerned with the applicability of recommendations made by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to aerodromes in the Persian Gulf, and measures for the joint operation of airfields by Royal Air Force (RAF) and civil aviation authorities.The main correspondents are as follows: the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf(Sir Charles Geoffrey Prior, and William Rupert Hay), officials of the India Office (the Commonwealth Relations Office from August 1947), and officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.The file contains a number of published and typed agreements, reports, and proposed standards for International Aviation:International Civil Aviation Conference. Part I. Final Act and Appendices I-IV. Chicago 7 December 1944. Printed by HM Stationery Office 'Misc No 6 (1945)’ Cmd 6614: folios 401-432Agreement between HM Government in the United Kingdom and the Provisional Government of the French Republic relating to Air Transport between British and French Territories. Printed by HM Stationery Office ‘Treaty Series No 7’ Cmd 6787: folios 304-315ICAO
, Air Routes and Ground Aids Division, Third Session. Montreal (1947). Doc 4809-AGA/558: folios 120-192PICAO,
Recommendations for Standards, Practices and Procedures: Facilitation of International Air Transport (FAL). Montreal (June, 1946). Doc 2005. FAL/40: folios 99-114.Memorandum on the views of the United Kingdom on FAL recommendations published by PICAO. CIV 15593: folios 90-95ICAO,
Search and Rescue Standards and Recommended Practices Approved by the Air Navigation Committee. DOC 5045 AN/579/2/1/48: folios: 68-79Ministry of Civil Aviation
General Principles to be followed at Joint/User Airfields Overseas. CIV 16788-16789: folios 13-18Ministry of Civil Aviation
Explanatory Memorandum on division of responsibilities for Telecommunication. CIV 16790-16791: folios 19-38Comments of the United Kingdom respecting the final report of the AGA Division of ICAO. CIV 16669: folios 11-12The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover, with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 432; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: a number of printed booklets in the file have their own parallel pagination sequences.
Abstract: The file contains copies of Ministry of Civil Aviation Middle East Intelligence Summaries – Numbers 1 to 8 – which have been supplied to the India Office. The summaries cover independent countries (Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia), sovereignties previously under British Mandate or influence (Egypt, Sudan, Trans-Jordan, and Iraq), territories under British Mandate or protection (Palestine and the Persian Gulf Shaikhdoms), British Colonies (Cyprus and the Aden Protectorate), and occupied territories under British military administration (Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, and Eritrea).The subject matter is developments, and proposals for developments, in civil aviation in the Middle East and surrounding regions. This includes the attitude of local governments to civil aviation, and the position of Britain's international competitors in civil aviation. Details related to the formation of airlines, and frequency of operating services are included.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folios with 53; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Abstract: The file contains copies of Ministry of Civil Aviation Eastern Intelligence Summaries – Numbers 1 to 2 – which have been supplied to the India Office. The summaries cover independent countries (China including Manchuria, Thailand, and the Philippine Commonwealth), countries under the influence of independent sovereignties (French Indo-China including the Republics of Vietnam and Cochin-China, and the Netherlands East Indies including the Republic of Indonesia), Countries within the British Commonwealth (India and Burma), British Colonies (Ceylon, Singapore, The Malayan Union, North Borneo, Sarawak, Brunei, and Hong Kong), and occupied territories under Allied administration (Japan, Korea, Formosa Island, Sakhalin, and the Kurile Islands).The subject matter is developments, and proposals for developments, in civil aviation in the Middle East and surrounding regions. This includes the attitude of local governments to civil aviation, and the position of Britain's international competitors in civil aviation. Details related to the formation of airlines, and frequency of operating services are included.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 22; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.