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'File 9/2 I Bahrain Reforms: Finances of the Bahrain Government' [‎249r] (522/556)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (259 folios). It was created in 10 Jun 1923-15 Aug 1933. 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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:
11 +.v.
GOVSMMisiHT OF BAHRAIN.
ik. n*
of 1346.
Office of the Adviser to
the Government, Bahrain.
Dated, 12th Safar. 1346.
To.
H.B.M's Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. .
Bahrain.
Sir. .
V /ith reference to my 105/21 of 8th Safar 1346, enclosing the
Budget for 1346, I have the honour to draw your attention to the
Expenditure under item 1. Allowances to the Ruling Family.
F The aanual revenue of the State is estimated at Rs 9,19,646.
The annual amount paid in allowances is Rs4 / 69 / 344, more than half
the revenue. I venture to suggest that this amount is excessive,
in proportion to the revenue, even if this yea^s revenue exceeds
the estimated amount. At the time that the scale of allowances etc.'
was laid down, some four years ago, it was agreed that they were
subject to a revision. I suggest that the time for revision has
arrived and that the revision should "be in the nature of a reduction
Some time ago I was provided with a copy of the Muscat Civil
List in order that it might assist me in the matter of determining
the allowances. I am not fully acquainted with the financial
affairs of Muscat hut I believe the annual revenue of the Sultanate^
exceeds that of Bahrain by about three lacs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . The Civil List of
Muscat, including the allowance of the Sultan, appears to be more*
than two lacs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees less than the Bahrain Civil List. fl
The Sultan of Muscat, I believe, receives Rs.10,000 per men^B
The Deputy Ruler of Bahrain receives Rs.12500/ per month. This, f^
him, is not excessive as heavy calls are made upon his charity anA
he is naturally expected to entertain and to keep up a certain st *e
compatible with his position. As is the custom with Arab rulers
he dispenses large sums every month in presents to Arabs who visit
Bahrain from the mainland and elsewhere.
His financial position is at present thoroughly sound, he owes
nothing and has a respectable bank balance, but if his salary were
reduced I think it would be difficult to keep him out of debt. I am
aware of his private money affairs as since coming here, at his own
request, i have undertaken the control of his private income and
his gardens and properties.
Shaikh Abdulla bin isa, youngest of the three brothers, is in
receipt of a salary of Rs.6,000 per month. Lately he has been
■taking a decided part in the general administration^ of the State,
[but his allowance, in my opinion, is more than it should be.
iALii Nadir Vaisul, brother of the Sultan of Muscat, who I believe
acts for the Sultan during the greater part of the year, receives
Rs 2,500. I suggest that Rs.3000. is sufficent for Shaikh
Abdulla, considering that he is a large landowner having been
given a great deal of property by his father Shaikh Isa, who's
favourite son he is.
The elder brother, Shaikh Mohamed, takes no part in public
affairs, fygra? owing to indifferent health and inclination. He
receives Rs 3000. per month. He also is a large landowner and
squeezes every possible rupee out of his tenants. I suggest that
^s.2000 would be sufficent for him. Both these shaikhs have sons
are in receipt of salaries. ' v

About this item

Content

The volume contains correspondence and papers relating to the finances of the Bahrain Government, and British officials' efforts to impose reforms on the Bahrain state finances.

Many of the letters in the volume are discussions between the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrain (Major Clive Daly until September 1926, thereafter Colonel Cyril Barrett) and the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. (Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Trevor until April 1924, thereafter Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Prideaux), about what needed to be done to regulate expenditure and generate income in Bahrain, with particular reference to the financial allowances given to members of the Al Khalifa family (for example folios 3-8, 27-29). The first monthly balance sheets, drawn up by Daly in December 1923, are enclosed (folios 32-38).

A large portion of the file is made up of monthly accounts sheets (including Bahrain civil lists), sent by Eastern Bank Limited to the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. (January 1924 accounts at folios 46-58, and subsequent months distributed throughout the volume). Correspondence from Claude de Grenier, Director of the Bahrain Customs House, enclosing customs house receipts and expenditure also figure prominently (for example, folios 80-81, 98-100). Notes on the annual Bahrain state budget for the Hijri years 1343 to 1346 (1924-1927), with balance sheets prepared by Daly (and later, Charles Dalrymple Belgrave) are also included in the file (folios 104-13, 187-90, 196-206, 231-46).

The file also contains correspondence from Prideaux to the Secretary of the Political Department at the 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. in Whitehall, dated 15 September 1925, indicating that Prideaux has found a man (Belgrave) qualified to work as a financial advisor to the Government of Bahrain (folios 168-69, 172B-175).

Extent and format
1 volume (259 folios)
Arrangement

The contents of the volume have been arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest items at the beginning to the latest at the end.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The main foliation sequence begins on the front cover and finishes on the back cover, using numbers written mainly in blue crayon (with additions, clarifications and corrections in pencil). The numbers are occasionally circled and are usually located 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, but can vary depending on the format of the folio.

The following foliation anomalies occur: 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F; 157A and 157B. Foliation omissions: 61 and 179.

The following folios are fold-outs: 1, 37-38, 45, 48-53, 55-56, 58, 62-63, 66-68, 71-83, 95-100, 107, 111, 113 and 125-129.

The volume is tightly bound to the extent that the text on some items disappears into the gutter, making it difficult to read.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 9/2 I Bahrain Reforms: Finances of the Bahrain Government' [‎249r] (522/556), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/128, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023828780.0x00007b> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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