"ملف 19/176 VI موارد البحرين المالية" [و‎‎٥‎٧] (٢٥٣/١١٣)

CO!TFIl )i ::iTlAL
British Residoncy & Consulate-General
Bushire,
the 6th February| 1945•
Krom
The Hon'ble Sir Geoffrey Prior, K.C.I.E.,
Political Resident| Persian Gulf f
B tJ 3 H I R K.
To
The viecretary to the Oovornnent of India
in the External Affairs Department,
f{ ^ '.y p E hw l.
Sir,
I have the honour to refer to External Affairs
Department Letter l^o, D. 18261- 2^/44 of the 21st
December, r.H4, regarding the Bahrain Report, 1362,
2. I regret to say that I have not yet found
time to road this Report, but the facts are \7ell
knovm to and there is no difficulty in answering
the question raised. In the first place I consider
the present raofoent most inopportune for suggesting
any reduction in the Privy Purse, as it would alnost
inevitably lead to a request for more money, which
His Highness has not so far made, and which might be
difficult to refuse. It must be reraerabered that the
Ruling Family in Btfirain now receive almost exactly
the same amounts they drew in 1341, although the cost
of living has trebled, and, since their financial
position has obviously greatly deteriorated they would
consider it most inequitable to be asked at this
stage to exist on smaller stipends,
3, I would also deprecate analociss being drawn
from Indian States and applied to the Persian Qulf,
where they have little real relevance. Colonel Barrett,
who was a very experienced Political Officer with Arabs,
stated in 1987 or 1928 when the late cihaikh Hamad was
making one of his periodical demands for money, that
the A1 Khalifah considered that the revenues of the
^tate belonged to them, and that any portion they
surrendered for the use of the administration must be
regarded as an act of f' v race« This position still exists
in Kuwait, with which the Bahrain Family could appro
priately compare themselves, and also in Saudi Arabia
to whom, and not to an Indian iitate, their eyes would
naturally turn. It is Impossible to move very far in
advance of public opinion in these states, and so far
as I know the handsome allowances paid to the Al
Khalifah are regarded rather as a tribute to our
administrative ability than an oppression which should
bo alleviated I In fact, if I were to attempt to
reduce the allowances now, there Is not the slightest
doubt that I should be accused of starving the Uillng