Page 109 - Records of Bahrain (4) (i)_Neat

Introduction of reforms, 1923 97

CONFIDENTIAL'. ...:d'~'
4 8 7^

Exproao lottcr No. 712-8., dalod IJueliiro, tlio 21et (rccoivcd Olot) Doccmbcr 1023.
From—Tho Honourable) tbo Political Eoaidont iu tho Poroian Gulf. i 924
Your telegram* 1088-S.
2. On my return from leave I rea'd tbo telegram roferred to, with the
rest of correspondence which took plnco during my absenco, but I confess I
rogarded it moro as a countorblast to Knox’s telegramt 421 of 0th May, than
as laying down any specific course of action. I understand reforms of
Customs, land rovonue and Pearling system havo always been contemplated.
Present arrangements 6ecm satisfactory to Baharnah (see concluding para­
graph of my letter} GG2-S. of 24th November).
3. As a result of my trij) to Muscat I was intending to telegraph some
proposals modifying’ those in ray G22-S.} on my return when I found above
telegram waiting for mo.
4. Daly and Bower had got rough monthly budget ready for my return
and I am forwarding it by this mail. It shows monthly receipts of Its.
87,000—which is very conservative estimate since during the month of Itabi
I (as reported iu my 022-S.,} page 7), revenuo from Customs alone exceeded
one lakh—expenditure Its. 07,150, leaving balance of Its. 19,850; expenditure
includes Courts, Civil List, Municipalities, Ponsions and all ordinary expen­
diture. estimated cost of Levies Its. 6,900, Education Its. 3,000, salaries of
officials shortly to be engaged Its. 1,000, salaries of proposed Pearling In­
dustry Department Its. 1,000, upkeep of Pearl fisheries hospital hoat,
Rs. 1,000, and "credited to reserve fund Rs. 1,000." Apart from ordinary
revenue surplus indicated above, there is a consolidated fund of over 3 lakhs
out of which Bahrain Government is allocating one lakh to improve­
ment of Customs premises and house for new Director. So it will be seen
that Bahrain is on a different Tooting from other small Arab States round
Gulf and reasonably prosperous. Cost of reforms suggested will not thus ‘
be loo heavy for Bahrain exchequer.
5. I answer your points seriatim.
(а) No, I do not think that Arab or Egyptian (particularly latter)
could manage Customs; am confirmed in this view by recent
visit to Muscat where I find Customs revenue is decreasing
steadily one lakh or more per annum since first reorganized,
while first director has retired (with a competency I fancy),
second has proved too lax even for Council of Ministers and
been sacked, while present man from Iraq though doing well
seems suspiciously prosperous for his salary.
(б) With British Officer Rs. 6,850 per mensem. Without British !
Officer Rs. 5,900 per mensem. On my visit to Muscat I as- :
ccrtaincd that Captain Alban, Commandant, Levies, would
be prepared to enlist aud train 100 Arabic speaking Baluchis
from Oman Coast, and possibly lend his second Indian Officer
Niaz Ali, as temporary commandant. If Alban could be
made Inspector of Bahrain Levy and authorised to inspect
(say) once a quarter, I believe this coupled with suggestion in
paragraph G below would suffice. Bahrain could pay his
salary Rs. 1,300 p.m. from day of leaving Muscat to day of re­
turn, thus giving very welcome relief to Muscat finances.
(c) Political Agent had talk with Hamad week or two ago about
educating his sons during which Van Ess’s school was men­
tioned. ITamad did not appear to like idea, and any suspi­
cion of our having pressed or persuaded him to send Iiis sons
to Missionary school would bo seized upon by our and his ill-
wishers as matter to make capital of. Hamad himself is at
present quite keen on idea of education of his sons and said
ho would like some Muhammadan Collogo, himself suggest­
ing Aligarh.
•Sorlal No 240.
tSorml No. 43
jSorml No, 241.