'Muscat. Wazir of - Appointment, Leave, Pay, etc, of' [‎184r] (377/546)

l/tuscat
x0"tin Ai>ril 193JL.
My dear Major, ~y
Wlxen I came to Kubcat, the State was "bankrupt; since
then, in spite of a number of small reforms, the financial
position has "become worse? revenue has steadily fallen,
and the State's liabilities have increased "by over Us#50,000
In oidei to prevent a complete financial "breakdown^
I drew up a retrenchment scheme mhich in my opinion would
qjickly enau j .e d oii tiixy expenditure to "be met from monthly
income» In putting this into effect I had expected to be
able to rely on tne help and co-operation of the Government
of India; the reverse hab been the case»
The crux oi tnis programme was a 1*2^$ cut in the
emoluments of the extremely well-paid, not to say over-paid.
Levy force* This reduction was approved by you, by the
Council ox Ministers, by myself and by the Commandant, who
made a reservation, not strongly pressed, that the cut in
pay might lead to discontent- The Council of Ministers,
with their wider knowledge of local conditions, did not
uphold this objection; nor did you#
As you are ai.are, the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. on his visit
here on February 15th sanctioned only a 5% reduction.
Had cogent arguments been advanced in support of this .
decision, I should have accepted them even though personally
I might not have found myself in agreement; as it was, only
sentimental reasons were given me# With due respect I
venture to submit that a bankrupt state cannot afford to
entertain reasons of this nature#
Since that date, the Council and myself have written
to the Political llesident pointing out that the financial
situation is more serious than he thought it v/as on his
visit here, and asking him to sanction at once, instead
of in the autumn, the second cut promised by him# Up to
date these letters have not so much as been acxcnopledged#
It is perhaps difficult for officials of the Government
of India, accustomed as they are to think in croret. ox