Coll 6/68 'Syria: Relief of destitute British Indians in Syria' [‎24r] (47/54)

Minute Paper.
P.Z.7393/34
2956
Political Department.
Please see the minute at P.Z.4356/32 in the hound
volume below where we agreed to the disbursement by the
Consul at Damascus of further expenditure of not more than
£150 towards the support of British Indians in Syria.
This raised the total limit up to which the Consul at
Damascus was empowered to make grants to £1,150 in all.
On the 24th October 1932 (P.Z.6854/32 in the bound
volume) the G.of I. qualified their agreement to this
arrangement by adding a time limitation to the effect
that all disbursements had to be brought to account in
this Office before the end of March 1934. The Accountant-
General in his note of the 14th December below shows that
of the extra £150 which had been sanctioned only
£61/7/7 was brought to account in the financial year
1933/1934. In view of the G.of I's time limitation
the £90 (approximately) which was left outstanding
should have been written off from the fund and the
account closed. The G.of I«s letter of the 24th October
1932, however, has been overlooked and since March 1934
the sum of £22.9.11 has already been paid and a claim
for £11.14.1 has now been preferred by the P.0.
Partly owing to the care with which the Consul at
Damascus has made his grants, and partly to the falling
off in the number of those in need of assistance, the sum
which the G.of I. made available in 1932 has lasted
considerably longer than was expected either by them or
us. Consequently the time limitation imposed by their
letter of the 24th October 1932 now appears stringent.
It is doubtful whether the Consul at Damascus is aware
of it since he is continuing to disburse payments from
the fund. It is therefore proposed to suggest to the
G.of I. that the time limitation might be waived. 1-^
6000 7 34
the/