Page 34 - Records of Bahrain (5) (ii)_Neat

356 Records of Bahrain

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Reoently the Government of Bahrain awployed an Auditor
7,
British firm of Auditors operating In ’Iraq and Abadan.
fro» *
The results of the audit, were eminently eatlefaotory for the

jocounte of the various Departments of the Qtnte were found to be
in order. The Auditor wan, however, able to Indicate a number
if direotionn In Phloh the method of keeping the accounts oould
be materially simplified, X venture to think that the Oovern-
eint of Bahrain Is muoh to bo congratulated, both on taking an
lotion eo unprecedented on the Arab Littoral and on the excellent
rioulto.

8. I fear that the financial poeition. In Bahrain ao
ileowhere, preeente a gloomy picture, but It la hoped that the
ilicovery of oil will plaoe the flnanaes of the fltate on a more
utlofaotory footing. Opportunities have been taken of putting
Into the Hind of His Rxoellenoy Bhalkh Hamad the idea that it

ns deolrable that the revenuo obtained from oil nhould be
llridod in ooho fixed proportion between himself and the Admlnii*
trition. His Exoellenoy evidently brooded ovor this matter,

he hao now himself suggested that a division should be made
ln the proportion of one-third to himself and two-thirds to the
Ministration* The matter has not yet been placed on a firsi
Wb, as negotiations regarding the exploitation of the oil
lr# etlli in progress, but the faot that His Kxoellenoy hao
Meelf made
this suggestion, and has proposed so reasonable a
)r°portlon, may bo regarded an of happy augury.

In-oonoluslon, I venture to make the warmest ooawenda-
0n of the work performed by the Tinanolal Advisor to the
^•rniaent
of Bahrain, Mr. 0. J). Belgravo. I have personal
of the extraordinary dlffioultlee with which Mr,
*r*Y# faced and of the taot and ability which he hae

displayed/