Page 17 - Records of Bahrain (5) (ii)_Neat

Revenue-expenditure budgets 339

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informal conversations with me on the subject, that
this step was inevitable and essential, Shaikh Salman
appreciated the necessity after examining the figures,

but Shaikh Mohomed was consistently opposed to any
reduction whatever and was only induced to agree to it
by his two relations after lengthy arguments. Shai khs
Abdullah and Salman were at first inclined to make a
reduction of 5$ or even 6$ but the proportion was
eventually reduced to 2j$> which was the most that Shaikh
Mohomed would consent to.
I suggested that the Ruler's own emolument should
not be reduced in view of the necessary expenses per­
taining to his position; my suggestion was vehemently
opposed by the three Shaikhs who declared that their
financial obligations,as the three leading Shaikhs of

the family, were equal to those of the Ruler, This
opinion is one which cannot be maintained and it is not
accepted by H. E. Shaikh Hamad.
H. E. Shaikh Hamad, with great reluctance, accepted
the suggestions, but at tho end of the year, when the
budget had actually been drafted, he wrote to me and
pointed out that both the Ilon'ble the Political Resident
and the Political Agent had assured him that his alloj noe s
should not be further diminished, In view of his letter
y/hen the budget was ready for his signature, I altered
the figures and cancelled the reduction effected by the
2reduction on the amount received by H. E. Shaikh

Hamad himself. Eventually the total saving by this
2'Kfo cut resulted in Rs 6,000/-, but it must bo admitted
that the appreciation by the Shaikhs of the principle is