Page 283 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter XIV. 253
Turkish lazaret in the Shat cl-Arab could not be efficacious unless placed at a
Bpot where both banks of tho liver belonged to Turkey, and that this spot
could only be found somewhore between llafar and Basrah (Dr. Dickson’s
letter, dated 2nd February 189*1.)
386. Sir A. Nicolson thereupon made representations to tho Porte, but the
Foreign Minister, Said Pasha, did not seem
Ibid (No. 339).
disposed to receivo tho representations
favourably. There was no doubt in Sir A. Nicolson’s opinion that a lazaret
at Fao would diminish the risks which were incurred by vessels communicating
with the shore during their passage up tho river, and thus contaminating tho
riparian districts (despatch to tho Foreign Office, dated 7th February 1891).
387. ,His Majesty’s Government instructed the British representatives at
Tehran and Constantinople to continue to discourago these projects.
(viii) Sanitary posts in the Persian Gulf and Turkish Arabia
proposed by the Paris Conference of 1894.
388. At an International Sanitary Conference held at Paris in 1891, it was
resolved, among other measures, to estab­
Secret E., Morch 1895, No*. 39-G8.
lish certain sanitary posts in tho Persian
Gulf, and to give certain powers to the Sanitary Board at Constantinople
which the Turks soon utilized to coutrol the traffic on the Skat-el-Arab :—
Annexe III—III (ii) of the Convention.
Sanitary posts to be established.
1. At Fao, or near this point, a large lazaretto on terra firma, with a
complete sanitary establishment having under its control the sanitary posts in
the Persian Gulf mentioned below.
2. A small lazaretto in one of the two islets, Ottoman Selhiye or Yilaniye,
situated near Basrah, to supervise such individuals as may have evaded the
visit to Fao.
3. Maintenance of the sanitary post in the Bay of Koweit.
4. Establishment of four sanitary posts in the Bay of Koweit.
6. 8anitary post at Menama, capital of the Bahrein Islands.
6. Sanitary post at Bander Abbas.
7. Sanitary post at Bander Bouchir.
8. Sanitary post at Mohammerah.
9. Sauitary post in the port of Gwadur (Baluchistan).
10. Sanitary post in the port of Maskat (on the Oman-Coast).
389. There were also made regulations, which would give occasion for
vexatious interference with the British
ibid (No. 27).
Indian commerce. Tho Foreign Office
therefore refused to accept the arrangements proposed for the Persian Gulf.
380. The Government of India, who were asked to state their opinion after
consulting the British officers and firms
Ibid (No. 67).
in the Gulf, expressed the following views
in their Despatch No. 22 (Secret),.dated 3rd January 1895
“ .For some time past a quarantine station has existed at Fao, and, as the information in
our possession shows under cover of quarantine and customs regulations. Turkish officials are
enabled to board Indian native craft bound to and coming from Mohammerah and to levy
blackmail. We do not doubt that, if a lazaret were also established there, the extortions to
which native craft are now subjected would be more freely practised, and probably extended to
vessels of greater burthen so that the inconvenience and loss inflicted by delay at Fao might
involve tho loss of one of the fortnightly tides needed by largo steamers in crossing the bar, and
if in conscqueuco it became necessary to tranship into lighters, the loading and unloading
WQuld.entail heavy expoodifcure.
The objections we entertain to the proposals of the Couferonco aro no less serious in view
over
of the political considerations involved. The pretensions of the Ar/tf to sovereignty c :-
Bahrein, its claim to Mohammerah as evidenced by the levy of dues on its imports and exports,
and the jealousy evinced by tho Turkish Government of the position of Great Britain on the
[S646FDJ T