Indian Empire Society

The Indian Empire Society was a London-based lobbying organization, formed in 1930 to promote the cause of the British empire in India. It was established by several former provincial governors of the Raj, among them Lord Sydenham, Lord Meston, Sir Reginald Craddock and Sir Michael O'Dwyer. Its principal goal was to resist the policy of Indian constitutional reform that successive governments of the 1930s had begun to pursue.

The society's aims, and its membership, often overlapped with those of the India Defence League. It held strongly reactionary views towards the cause of Indian self-determination, and frequently cited its deep concern for the fate of the Indian masses under a democratic system. A joint letter (written in 1933) sums up the society's attitude:

"As retired Government servants, with long experience of Indian conditions, we are convinced that a too rapid advance towards self-government would be fraught with the utmost danger, not only to British trade and commerce, but also to the security and happiness of the 350,000,000 of our Indian fellow-subjects." (published in the Times, 1933)

The society's first public meeting was held in Westminster in July 1930. The first president was Lord Sumner. Winston Churchill was a member and made speeches to the society on a number of occasions. Other prominent members included:

* Lord Ampthill, former governor of Madras
* Sir Hugh Barnes, former governor of Burma
* Sir Reginald Craddock, former governor of Burma
* Sir Mark Hunter, former official in Burma
* Field Marshal Sir Claud Jacob, former chief of staff in India
* Sir Michael O'Dwyer, former governor of Punjab
* Sir Charles Oman, historian
* Sir Louis Stuart, former chief judge of Oudh
* Lord Sydenham, former governor of Bombay
* Waris Ameer Ali, former district judge in the United Provinces