Page 148 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

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the Indian Government. In September 1904
Major Cox, after examining the old records Major Cox tu
regarding the sanitary control in the Persian iJ^™ul0Dtof
Gulf, reportod that “since 1801, and probably September5,1904
before, it has been entirely in our hands; but our
control seems to huve come into existence auto­
matically, and 1 can trace no original arrange­
ments with the Persian Government.” The
appearance of plague at Bombay in the autumn
of 189G rendered it imperative to adopt quaran­
tine precautions in the Gulf. The resources of Persian Gulf
the Persian Government were unequal to the Residency
Administration
inauguration of adequate measures, and the task •kiwri, isuC-97
was, with the consent and at the desire of the
Persian Government, undertaken by the British
iicsidoucy at Bushirc. After soino difficulty,
quarantine was placed on satisfactory and efficient
footing at Bunder Abbas, Linguh, uud Mohara-
mcrali, for which the services of assistant
surgoons were lent by the Government of India,
as well as at Bushirc.
In August 1903 the Government of India of
reported that throe assistant surgeons were cm- August 12 and 20,
ployed exclusively on quarantine duties at luu3*
Mohammerah, Sunder Abbas, and Lingah, while
at Bushire and Jask the duty was done by the
assistant'surgeons attached to the Residency and
the telegraph station respectively. The cost of
the quarantine establishment at the first three
ports, estimated at 1,4*0 rupees a-raonth (1,184/.
per annum) was borne by the Persian Govern­
ment, while a charge of about 310 rupees a-month
(272/. per annum) fell upon Indian revenues ill
respect of the quarantine duties discharged by
the doctors at Jask and Bushirc. The assistant Colonel Kculwll
,
.
...
,
, to (Jovommcut
surgeons were placed under the immediate orders 0f India,
of the Residency Surgeon at Bushire, who was in February 3, l'J04.
the executive charge of the quarantine arrange­
ments. Financially, control was vested in the
Customs Admiuistration, to whom all fees were
made over by the quarantine officials.
Attempts have from timo to time been made to
undermine the position of the British Quarantine
Administration. On the 0th August, 1903, Sir A. Ilanliugw
lu Lord Limn.
Sir A. Hardinge telegraphed that the Russians downe. •
were pressing the Persian Government to take August (i, I'JOS.
the Gulf quarantine arrangements out of the
hands of the British doctors and to place them
under the Belgian Customs Department. Six
days later the Government of India telegraphed Vicon.y'a inlugnm
that they had “positive proof” that the Persian lst»