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'File 19/176 II (C 40) Bahrain Finances' [‎56r] (124/528)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (263 folios). It was created in 17 Jun 1932-11 Dec 1932. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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-2-
Bolitical Agent while stating that it was the intention of the
State to raise the customs duty from 5^ to 7^, asked that the
State should be granted tariff autonomy, and this request I
supported# It is, however, a somewhat serious modification
of our treaty rights, and I did not adrance at the time detailed
arguments in support of it and the Government of India did not
approve of the proposal. The State, however, have now made
a further request, namely, that they should be permitted to
enhance the customs duty on luxury articles to 10/& instead of
7^ and to 15^ on tobacco and liquor. It is estimated that the ,
I
additional revenue from these sources will produce about
Rs.48,000, while, as mentioned above, economies in the Police
will produce another Hs.20,000, making Ks.68,000 in all.
Further Shaikh Isa's health has been exceedingly bad of late
and Doctor Dame of the American Mission told me that he thought
there was little likelihood of his living much longer. He has
an allowance of Rs. 5,000 per mensem, i.e.Rs. 60,000 per annum,
and if this also can be saved there will then be some prospect
of balancing the budget in the near future. On the other hand
it is clear that without the increase in the tariff for which
%
permission is now sought there is no possibility of doing so, and
the State will have to live on its reserves until these are
exhausted. It will be a race between the return of better
times and the exhaustion of the reserves, and having regard to
the fact that Bahrain depends entirely on a luxury trade, namely,
the sale of pearls, which will probably revive but slowly,
there is little doubt which will occur first. 1
4. How I would venture to ask whether the question of the *
grant to this small Principality of tariff autonomy could not be
re-considered. The government of India in their telegram Ho.
715 of the 5th March 1932 recommended a flat rate of increase on
all articles. To this t/ie Shaikh and the financial Adviser are
both strongly opposed. At the present time a large portion of the
population are on the brink of starvation and there is a great
deal of unemployment and tnything which might ooneeiTably
_ ..... i&Ctf&Rpn*

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Content

This file contains detailed correspondence regarding Bahrain's finances from 1931 and 1932 including revenue and expenditure figures. The correspondence also discusses the levy of the zakat religious tax, customs/tariff matters, budget estimates, auditing details and other financial issues.

On folios 83 - 165 is an annual report (completed by Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's adviser, Charles Belgrave) for the hijri calender year 1350 (1931/2 CE). The report contains a detailed assessment of Bahrain's finances, services and other related issues including the pearl diving industry, the police force and agriculture.

Extent and format
1 volume (263 folios)
Arrangement

File is arranged in chronological order, from earliest at beginning of the file to most recent at end.

There is an index of the topics contained in the file on folio 2A. The page numbers listed on the index page refer to the uncirlced, pencil foliation sequence.

Physical characteristics

A bound correspondence volume. The foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled and can be found in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Included in the sequence are: 1A, 1B and 1C; 2A; 2B and 2C; 82A and 82B; 165A and 165B; 186A and 186B; 239a and 239B.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 19/176 II (C 40) Bahrain Finances' [‎56r] (124/528), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/351, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023527137.0x00007d> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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