Private Office Papers

The full range of subjects covered by the papers extends to most aspects of India and Burma policy. They are particularly rich in material relating to major political and constitutional issues. There is extensive coverage of the Round Table Conference, its general organisation, composition and terms of reference; constitutional reform and constitutional questions; Gandhi, Congress and civil disobedience; economic and financial questions; the defence of India and Burma; relations with the Princely States, paramountcy and federation; relations with foreign governments; the Secretary of State's services, appointments, terms and financial aspects; the Privy Council; important Indian appointments. Within the framework of these subjects, the main types of material contained in the collection are telegrams, personal and official letters between the Secretary of State and the Viceroy and in some cases personal letters between the Viceroy and the Governors. There are also drafts of the Secretary of State's letters and telegrams; minuting India Office officials, including the Secretary of State; Cabinet papers; correspondence with leading Indian politicians; procedural notes and correspondence of various committees; notes negotiations regarding compensation affected by the Transfer of Power and other miscellaneous correspondence relating to constitutional issues.

IOR/R/3/1: Viceroy's Private Office Papers For details of the closely connected private papers of Secretaries of State and Viceroys held in the Oriental and India Office Collections, see David M. Blake, Catalogue of the European Manuscripts in the Oriental and India Office Collections of the British Library (London, 1998)

Unrestricted