File 815/1917 Pt 9 'Persian Gulf:- Lights & Buoys. Expenditure – Claims against F.O.' [‎464r] (17/58)

4
COPY.
S/8898/2.
28th March, 1923.
Sir,
I have laid before the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's
Treasury Mr. Oliphant’s letter of the 22nd instant (E.2788/786/34)
transmitting copies of further correspondence with the India
Office, with enclosures, relative to expenditure incurred on the
lighting and buoying of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
In reply, I am to request you to inform the Marquess Curzon
of Kedleston that provided the necessary Audit Certificate is
forthcoming from 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. , My Lords sanction payment of
an advance not exceeding £20,000 in respect of the accounts now
presented in respect of the years 1919/20, 1920/21 and 1921/22,
amounting to £23,231. 6. 8d. subject to the following observations.
1. My Lords note that the March 1921 Supplementary Account
includes an item in respect of the depot at Abadan and that
further expenditure in respect of the depot is claimed for the
year 1921/22. They note that there is no authority for recurring
expenditure on this project, and I am to point out that My Lords
understand from semi-official correspondence in November last that
this depot, had never in fact, been established, and in these
circumstances I am to request that further information may be
supplied as to the expenditure now claimed from Imperial funds.
2. My Lords note that of the claim amounting to £13,625. 13. 10
for the year 1921/22, £11,647. 1. lid. is in respect of recurring
expenditure in connection with the H Nearchus n . Of this amount
£6,625. 14. 2d. appears to be almost completely unexplained, and
I am to request that My Lords may be furnished with a statement
showing full details of the nature of tnis expenditure ancx the
circumstances under which it was incurreo.
My Lords authorise payment of the two claims in respect of
the
he
Under Secretary of State,
FOREIGN OFFICE.