Coll 30/86(2) 'Persia. Relations with Iraq. Shatt-el-Arab: Internationalisation of, and establishment of a Conservancy Board.' [‎202r] (414/944)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S
EASTERN (Iraq).
CONFIDENTIAL.
July 27
1936
Section 2.
^6
[E 4779/481/93] Copy No. H9
Mr. Bateman to Mr. Eden.—(Received duly 27.)
(No. 357 E.)
Bagdad, July 15, 1 ( .)3(5.
I HAVE the honour to refer to my despatch No. 427 E. of the 1st August,
1935, and to inform you that I have now received from Colonel Ward an
advance typewritten copy of the Administration Report of the Port of Basra,
including a report on the Fao dredging scheme, for the financial year 1935-36.
Printed copies of the report will be transmitted to you when they are
available.
2. Details of budget estimates and actual revenue and expenditure during
the year are set forth in the enclosures in this despatch, together with com
parative figures of actual expenditure in the preceding year.
3. It will be seen that the revenue of the port, while falling short by
some T4,300 of that earned in 1934-35, exceeded the budget estimate by about
T20,000. This excess is accounted for almost in its entirety by increased
traffic revenue and miscellaneous receipts. The earnings of the traffic depart
ment exceeded expectations by <£12,900, largely as a result of increased imports
of materials destined for the Royal Air Force station at Dhibban and of
constructional material for the Kut barrage. Miscellaneous revenue was
swollen by receipts on account of the sale of surplus craft and material, for
which no budget provision was made. Receipts in the Marine Department,
while approaching closely the budget estimate, were lower by about £ 10,000
than in 1934-35. This decrease was brought about in its entirety by the
reduction in dues u A ” by 2 fils per gross registered ton as from the
1st April, 1935.
4. Expenditure was greater by about £4,000 than the budget estimate,
and by £12,000 than that for the preceding year. This increase was due to the
introduction of the new form of contract for foreign officials serving in the
port directorate, in consequence of which the leave accounts of all such
officials had to be liquidated.
5 . The Fao bar dredging scheme shows a surplus on the year’s working
of £8,522, as compared with an estimated surplus of £455. Dredging dues
have declined by over £40,000 as compared with 1934-35. This decrease is not
due to a falling off in the number of vessels entering and .leaving the port, or
to a diminution of their draft, but to the reduction of 15 per cent, in the scale
of dues introduced on the 1st April, 1935. Expenditure under the several
headings has been within or very slightly in excess of the budget estimates,
with the exception of renewals and repairs, where the over-expenditure of
some £ 4,000 is due to the cost of dry-docking a dredger, which proved more
extensive than was anticipated.
6 . I am sending a copy of this despatch to the Department of Overseas
Trade.
I have, &c.
C. H. BATEMAN.
O')