Page 283 - Records of Bahrain (6)_Neat

Budgetary affairs 271

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Thoro is a limit to the extent that Belcrave, who is the
Shaikh's own servant, can check him in this respect; and
the responsibility for doing so rests (as long as it is
His Majesty's Government1s policy to concern themselves
with the administration of tho State in the interest of
our defence and other commitments here) with the Political
Agent, and, ultimately, with the Resident.

5. por should we icnore, or omit to prepare for, the
fact that some day the people of Bahrain may insist on
taking an increasing share in the administration of the
State. When public opinion develops and becomes more
vocal - a condition that will result from education and
increasing contacts with the outside world - it is likely
to be directed against defects in the administration;
against the personal affluence of the Ruler and the A1
Khalifah; and, by analogy, against us because we'have per­
mitted these things. 'Che facts that tho Ruler's personal
income exceeds some £120,000 a year, free of tax, and that,
in addition, certain of his personal expenses and the
allowances to his family are paid from the general revenues'
will not then be lost upon informed members of the public.
Indeed, they are not now. Also, His Majesty's Government
have, I understand, already directed their Middle East
Office to work for the wider distribution of wealth in the
Arab world. Thus, any relaxation of our efforts to keep
the Ruler's share of the State's income within its present
bounds, or any acquiescence in increases in the A1 Khalifah's
allowances at the expense of the general revenues, would
appear to be not only a retrograde rather than a forward
step towards tho emancipation of the people of Bahrain, but
contrary to His Majesty's Government's recently formulated
policy.
6. I would urge, therefore, that the Political Agent be
authorised to inform the Ruler that Mis Majesty's Government
are now, as in the past, strongly averse to the increased
allowances on tho Civil List salaries - which were sanctioned
by the Ruler without consulting the Political Agent - being
charged to general revenues; and that he should meet them
from his share of the oil royalties, or from his own reserves.

h\.

NS.