[Northbrook Society and National Indian Association headquarters.] Printed Copy of 'Agreement with regard to Cromwell House, South Kensington', between 'The Secretary of State in Council of India and the Northbrook Society'.

6 + [1]pp, folio. Stab stitched. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with punch-hole at inner margin. An official copy, with 'Northbrook Society' at top right of first page. On four leaves, with the details printed on reverse of last leaf for folding into the customary packet: 'Dated 15th October 1914. | THE SECRETARY OF STATE | IN COUNCIL OF INDIA | AND | THE NORTHBOOK SOCIETY | - | AGREEMENT | WITH REGARD TO | CROMWELL HOUSE, SOUTH | KENSINGTON.' The agreement sets forth that it is the intention of the Secretary of State 'that the management of the said House shall be vested in a General Committee and a Managing Committee', giving both the present and intended constitutions. With signatures in type of the relevant parties, including 'SIR JAMES THOMSON, K.C.S.I., and ABBAS ALI BAIG, C.S.L., being two Members of the Council of India'. No other copy traced. Relating to, and from the papers held at, the headquarters ('London Bureau') of the National Indian Association and the Northbrook Society, 21 Cromwell Road, London. For many decades the building was of great significance to those from the Indian subcontinent in London. The 'Report on the Work of the Indian Students' Department. July 1912 - June 1913' states: 'The Bureau established by the Secretary of State in 1909 [...] has for three years had its home at 21, Cromwell Road, S.W., and is still to a large extent the headquarters of the Students' Department. It is by far the most important of the centres which fall under the general direction of the Secretary for Indian Students. There Mr. T. W. Arnold, C.I.E., the Educational Adviser in London, and his assistants work, and a number of rooms are kept for the accommodation of Indian students on their arrival in this country. There the National Indian Association holds its meetings and receptions, and Miss Beck, the Honorary Secretary of the Association, resides. This Association is the centre of the social activities of the house. Its gatherings are shared in freely by Indian students, and many of its members are interested in making the acquaintance of the students and in showing them hospitality and friendship. There, too, the Northbrook Society has its quarters, in rooms which, like the National Indian Association, it rents from the Secretary of State. The Society's Committee, under the chairmanship of Sir H. H. Shephard, is composed of English and Indian gentlemen alike. Mr. Cranmer Byng, the Secretary, is in constant attendance, and a number of Indian students make use of the rooms. Both Miss Beck and Mr. Cranmer Byng are valued members of the establishment at Cromwell Road, and the usefulness of that house as a social centre depends largely on the development of the work they do.'