Colonial Office: Palestine Original Correspondence and Other Records

CO 733

1915-1994

This series contains original correspondence relating to Palestine. It also includes records of railways and port staff, establishment lists, and records of officers who served in the Palestine Police.

For a few further records see CO 926

Public Record(s)

English

• Colonial Office, 1854-1966
• Commonwealth Office, 1966-1968
• Commonwealth Relations Office, 1947-1966
• Dominions Office, 1925-1947
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 1968-1968
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, 2020-2020

2324 files and volumes

Open unless otherwise stated

From 2024 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

From 1989 Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Topics

International

Railways

Middle East

Series is accruing

In 1854 the Colonial Office, headed by a Secretary of State for the Colonies, was established. Prior to this, a Secretary of State for War and the Colonies held responsibility for administration of colonial matters. In 1815, the increased demands which the acquisition of new colonies had imposed meant that by 1822 the office included four Geographical Departments dealing with colonies in different areas of the world. Between 1804 and 1836 the War and Colonial Department was responsible for relations with the Barbary States, but in 1836 this responsibility was transferred to the Foreign Office. On the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854 colonial and military affairs were divided and a separate Secretary of State for the Colonies was appointed. The now Colonial Office was divided into geographical areas, and general business entrusted to the chief clerk. In 1870 a General Department took some of the work of the chief clerk, an Accounts Branch was set up in 1869, and there was a separate Emigration Department from 1878 to 1894. In 1907 a Dominions Division was set up; in 1925 this became the separate Dominions Office, though until 1930 and again briefly in 1931 and 1938 to 1939 the offices of Secretary of State for the Colonies and Secretary of State for Dominions Affairs were held by the same person. The remaining geographical departments were grouped in a Crown Colonies Division. The territories mandated to Britain following the First World War were also administered by the Colonial Office. From 1907 to 1925 it was responsible for the work of the Imperial Institute. From 1930 the number of subject departments increased considerably, a trend which accentuated during the Second World War. The granting of independence to growing numbers of colonies in the post-war period and the termination of mandates led to a decrease in the responsibilities of the Colonial Office. Relations with the former colonies became the concern of the Commonwealth Relations Office. In July 1961 responsibilities for overseas aid and development formerly borne by certain departments and committees of the Colonial Office were transferred to the new Department of Technical Co-operation. From July 1962 to October 1964 the titles of Secretary of State for the Colonies and Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations were combined, and in 1966 the Colonial Office was merged with the Commonwealth Relations Office to form the Commonwealth Office. In 1968 the Foreign Office and Commonwealth Office merged to form the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In 2020, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office merged with the Department for International Development, to form the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.