British Colonial Policy and Intelligence Files on Asia and the Middle-East, c. 1880-1950

India Office Political and Secret Files and Confidential print

The files detail British colonial administration and intelligence gathering. They comprise a wide variety of papers received from the Government of India Foreign Department and other sources in India, and from the Foreign Office in London, together with India Office-generated minuting, comment and replies.

Strict rules of custody meant that the printed matter, held and consulted at other locations that the India Office, periodically had to be destroyed. The full runs of such print at the OIOC/Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections of the British Library constitute a range of documentation that is not equaled anywhere else.

Close to all items in the series were classified secret, confidential, restricted or for official use only.

The main themes that the files and printed matter provide documentation for are:
• The processes by which British governmental, diplomatic, military and administrative channels collected and organized information that was deployed in strengthening its position in the competition for influence and power in Asia and the Middle East;
• The general anti-communist, anti-nationalist character of evolving British policies, and;
• The organization of the collecting and aggregating of information from (native) operatives 'on the ground' to the highest levels of policy-crafting. Close to all items in the series were classified secret, confidential, restricted or for official use only.

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Cover British Colonial Policy and Intelligence Files on Asia and the Middle-East, c. 1880-1950
Finding aid to the British Colonial Policy and Intelligence Files on Asia and the Middle East, c. 1888-1950
Description of the Archive Container List


British Colonial Policy and Intelligence Files on Asia and the Middle East


Digital version:

Encoded and processed by: Egbert Efting Dijkstra, Jan Molendijk, Peter Verhaar and Peter Smaardijk


Descriptive Summary

Title: British Colonial Policy and Intelligence Files on Asia and the Middle East
Creator: India Office, UK Government Department
Dates:1888-1950
Extent: 257,785 exposures ; 4597 microfiches
Materials predominantly in English, with some in Chinese, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi and other (local languages)
Abstract: The materials consist of British Intelligence Files on India, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf States, China, Tibet, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Turkey
Ordernumber: CIT-1 - CIT-8 ; IPI-1 - IPI-17 ; BIA-1 - BIA-9 ; BII-1 - BII-10 ; BIP-1 - BIP-5 ; BIS-1 - BIS-8 ; BIC-1 - BIC-2 ; BGS-1 - BGS-4 ; BIY-1 - BIY-4; BIT-1 - BIT-4
Publisher: IDC Publishers

Location of Originals

Filmed from the originals held by: British Library, Oriental & India Office Collections (OIOC). In 2003, the OIOC was integrated into the British Library's Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections.

Scope and Content

The files detail British colonial administration and intelligence gathering. They comprise a wide variety of papers received from the Government of India Foreign Department and other sources in India, and from the Foreign Office in London, together with India Office-generated minuting, comment and replies.

The main themes that the files and printed matter provide documentation for are:

  • The processes by which British governmental, diplomatic, military and administrative channels collected and organized information that was deployed in strengthening its position in the competition for influence and power in Asia and the Middle East;
  • The general anti-communist, anti-nationalist character of evolving British policies, and;
  • The organization of the collecting and aggregating of information from (native) operatives 'on the ground' to the highest levels of policy-crafting.

Close to all items in the series were classified secret, confidential, restricted or for official use only.

Strict rules of custody meant that the printed matter, held and consulted at other locations that the India Office, periodically had to be destroyed. The full runs of such print at the OIOC/Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections of the British Library constitute a range of documentation that is not equaled anywhere else.

Arrangement

This collection is organized into the following series and subseries:

Selected Search Terms

Geographical Terms

Great Britain -- Colonies -- Asia.
India -- History -- Sources.
Tibet (China) -- History -- Sources.
Iraq -- History -- Sources.
Afghanistan -- History -- Sources.
China -- History -- Boxer Rebellion, 1899-1901.
China -- History -- Sources.
Great Britain -- Colonies -- Administration.
Saudi Arabia -- History.
Turkey -- History.
Kuwait -- History -- Sources.
Great Britain -- Influence, Colonial.
Iran -- History -- Sources.
Persian Gulf.
Persian Gulf Region -- History.
India -- History -- 20th century -- Sources.
Asia, Central -- History -- Sources.
South Asia -- History -- Sources.
Middle East -- History -- Sources.
Asia, Central -- Foreign relations
Kazakhstan -- History
Kyrgyzstan -- History
Tajikistan -- History
Turkmenistan -- History
Uzbekistan -- History
Burma -- History -- Sources
Yemen (Republic) --History.

Subjects

Petroleum -- Prospecting.
Petroleum -- Concessions.
Petroleum law and legislation -- Persian Gulf Region.
Protectorates
Military intelligence -- Administration.
Diplomacy.
Colonies -- Administration.

Container List


British Intelligence on China in Tibet, 1903-1950

From Younghusband to the revolution, 1903-1912

Revolution in China, 1911-1915

Simla Conference and the 1914 convention, 1912-1946

Internal affairs and boundaries, 1912-1947

Travellers and entry control, 1905-1950

Trade, 1904-1949

Education for modernisation, 1912-1947

14th Dalai Lama, World War II and Communist China, 1933-1950


Indian PoliticalIntelligence (IPI) Files, 1912-1950

Indian Political Intelligence Organisation and Personnel

Islam & the Khilafat Movement, 1922-1940

Inter-Departmental Committee on Eastern Unrest, 1922-1927

Communism: Russia, 1922-1938

Communist Party of Great Britain, 1921-1948

Communism: India & Indian Communist Party, 1921-1950

Meerut Conspiracy Case, 1928-1933

Revolutionary and Terrorist Activities, 1914-1942

Control and Censorship, 1918-1949

Passport Control

Arms Smuggling

Tear Gas for Riot Control

Subversive Publications

Wartime Censorship

Indian National Congress, 1928-1947

League against Imperialsm, 1925-1942

Other Organisations and Movements, 1921-1947

North America, 1912-1948

Axis Powers, 1924-1949

Other 'Country' Files, 1921-1949

Personal Files, 1916-1949

Miscellaneous Reports and Subjects, 1916-1949

Local governments’ fortnightly reports on the political situation 1929-1934

Assam

Bengal

Bihar & Orissa

Bombay

Burma

Central Provinces & Berar

Delhi

Madras

North-West Frontier Province

Punjab

United Provinces


British Intelligence Files on Afghanistan and its Frontiers, c. 1888-1946

Gazetteers and handbooks, 1888-1935

Internal and external affairs, 1907-1941

Afghanistan. Government of India Foreign Department Printed Correspondence. Secret/Confidential

Who's who, 1914-1940

Military reports, 1906-1940

Route books, 1907-1941

Frontiers: general, and northern section, 1910-1946

Frontiers: central section, 1908-1941

Frontiers: Waziristan, 1907-1940

Frontiers: Baluchistan, 1910-1946


The Creation of Modern Iraq:India Office Political and Secret Files, c 1914-1921.

Gazetteers and Handbooks

Outbreak of the First World War: situation in Turkish Arabia

Wartime military and civil administration

Wartime economy: trade and communications

Post-war administration and constitution for the state of Iraq

Local government and education

Kurdistan

Iraqi boundaries

Post-war economic development

The oil industry


The Creation of Modern Saudi Arabia, c. 1914-1939

Gazetteers and Handbooks.

Arabian Politics and the First World War.

Arabia after the War : Territorial Consolidation; The Conquest of the Hijaz.

Regional Relations and Boundaries : Kuwait, Iraq and Transjordan, 1920-1932.

Regional Relations and Boundaries : Asir, Yemen and the Red Sea, 1919-1934.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia : Government and Infrastructure.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia : International Relations.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia : Oil, Boundaries and Regional Relations.


British Intelligence and Policy on Persia (Iran) 1900-1949

Gazetteers and Handbooks, 1906-1948

International and External Affairs, 1904-1949

Persia. Government of India Foreign Department Printed Correspondence.

Persia. Annual Report. Foreign Office, London, Confidential Print.

British Legation/Embassy, Tehran. Military Attaché's Intelligence Summaries. Foreign Office, London, Confidential Print.

British Embassy, Tehran. Air Attaché's Intelligence Summaries. Foreign Office, London.

Ahwaz (Khuzistan) Consular Diaries. Printed by the Government of India Foreign Department 1931-33. From 1934 in typescript and sent directly to the Foreign Office in London.

Sarhad series (Persian Baluchistan) Printed Correspondence. Government of India Foreign Department

Kerman Consulate Diary. Government of India Foreign Department

Kermanshah Monthly Diary. Received from the Foreign Office, London

Khorramshahr Consulate Diary. Received from the Foreign Office, London

'Persia Diaries'. Government of India Foreign Department

Meshed Diary. Government of India Foreign Department. Confidential/Secret

Meshed Intelligence Summary/Diary. Government of India General Staff/ Foreign Department

Who's Who, 1909-1947.

Military Reports, 1900-1940.

Routes, 1908-1942.


British Military Intelligence on China and the Boxer Rising c. 1880-1930

Gazetteers, Reports & Routes, 1884 - 1930.

China Expedition, 1900 - 1903.


The Arab Gulf States

Gazetteers and Handbooks, (1820) 1907-1940

Oil exploration and oil concessions, 1912-1949

Strategic interests in the Gulf, 1914-1951

Trade and communications, 1926-1949


British Intelligence on Russia in Central Asia, c. 1865-1949

'The Great Game': Handbooks and Intelligence Reports, 1871-1894

Michell's Russian Abstracts and Memories, 1872-1883

British Policy Papers and Memoranda, 1865-1898

Foreign Office Confidential Printed Correspondence on the Affairs of Central Asia, 1899-1913.

Handbooks, Military Reports and Personalities, 1902-1929

From Anglo-Russian Entente to Revolution and Rebellion: Political and Secret Files, 1903-c. 1924.

Soviet Central Asia - The Consolidation of Power: Political and Secret Files, c. 1924-1949.


Delineating British Burma: British Official and Confidential Print, c. 1826- 1949

The British Conquest, 1827-1905

Report on frontier operations in 1888-89.

Gazetteers and Handbooks, 1879-1944

Military Reports and Route Books, 1903-1945

Boundaries: Reports and Examinations, 1892-1937

Reports on Districts and States, 1865-1936.


British Intelligence on Yemen, c. 1880- 1948

Gazetteers and handbooks, 1877-1917.

Political and secret subject files on Yemen and the Aden protectorate, 1902-1930.

Political and secret collections on Yemen and the Red Sea, c 1930-1945.

Political and secret collections on the Aden protectorate, c 1930-1948.


British Intelligence on Siam (Thailand) and Mainland Southeast Asia, 1887-1948

South-East Asia: Military Reports, 1892-1932

Siam (Thailand): Political Affairs, 1887-1948

Siam (Thailand): Boundaries 1894-1945

Siam (Thailand): Railways 1907-1947

Siam (Thailand): Consular Tours, 1912-1941

Siam (Thailand): 2nd World War, 1930-1948


British Intelligence on Yemen, c.1940-1967

Reports and Handbooks, 1939-1967

Intelligence Summaries, 1948-1967


The Rise of Modern Turkey, c. 1906-1939

Handbooks and Intelligence Reports, 1908-1920

Foreign Office Confidential Printed Correspondence on the Affairs of Asiatic Turkey and Arabia, 1906-1913

Ottoman Dexline and the First World War: Political and Secret Files, 1903-1919

The Post-war Settlement and the Turkish Republic: Political and Secret Files, 1918-1939



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