Page 146 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

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support of the Persian proposals stated that
Dr. Faivre (whose Report His Majesty’s Govern­
ment had not yet seen) had pronounced in favour
of Henjam, the island chosen by the Persian
Government, as boing a suitable position for
tho station, while, at the same time, they pointed
out tlmt it would be difficult for them to oxplain
to Persia that one of the rcasous for which
Great Britain had decided not to accept the
Persian proposal was tho incapacity of tho
Persian Treasury to bear the expenses. It was
also urged that, if the Persian offer were declined,
Persia might refuse to ratify tho Paris Conven­
tion or make her ratification conditional on
resorves, which would cause still further delay in
bringing the Convention into operation.
At this stage of tho discussion Dr. Thomson's
Report reached the hands of His Majesty’s
Government in July 190(1. Its general conclu­
sions were opposed to tho creation of a sanitary
station at the entrance to the Gulf, (1) because
it still remained to be proved that epidemics had
been conveyed to Europe by that routo;
(2) because a sanitary station at that point would
be ineffective, inasmuch as it would be .evaded by
native sailing craft, the most dangerous class of
shipping; and (3) because no suitable position
t-ould be found for such a station, Henjam,
though upon tho whole the most suitable site in
other respects, being open to serious objections
on account of its climate, its inadequate water
supply, and its lack of provisions.
Dr. Thomson’s own recommendations were
summarized as follows at tho close of his
Report:—
u In substance, therefore, the scheme best adapted, in
the circumstances, to secure a reasonable degree of
protection to Europe and tho minimum of interference
with commercial interests in tho Gulf of Persia con­
sists in the perfecting of tho present sanitary stations
at Mohammcnib and Bushire,* the establishment of a
sanitary station at Koweit, and the creation of a new
station in place of that now existing at Bussorah. • Sani­
tary defence of the Gulf based on these linos will afford a
greater degree of protection to Europe nguinst plague
and cholera than would be secured by a * sentinel
station’ near the entrance of the Gulf, combined with
a terminal station at Bussorah, and will not impose on

• Dr. Thomson further considered that there would “ be
advantage to commerce iu also fully equipping the sanitary
station at Bunder Abbas.”