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394* For many years past each of the members of this Residency had,
Captain Jones'*utter, dated 31K January *8<5a, through the consideration of the Persian
Volume 11.80 of 186a. Government, been permitted to build sum-
mer quarters for themselves on the desert plains about 16 miles distant from
Bushire. During the Persian war these dwellings were for the most part destroy
ed and in 1858 on Captain Jones’s application a new site was conceded for crcc-
tion of new premises. But in the course of erection gross representations were
made to Tehran respecting the Resident’s own quarters. • A plan of these was
then called for and submitted, and the building was completed without in
terruption.*
395. In 1860 a petty bungalow was commenced to be built by the Resident for
the Civil Surgeon. No objection to its erection was offered at the time, but presently
the Resident found that the Persian Ministers were prepared to retaliate a want
of subserviency to their views in respect to Bahrein by reagitating the question of
the summer residences on the plausible ground of the bounds of Persian conces
sion having been transgressed by erection of the Civil Surgeon’s house and other
little additions not in the plan.
A pretext was wanted, and when found had been reserved for re-agitation at
a convenient season. Exaggerated reports of the Resident’s opposition to Persian
supremacy at Bahrein led to re-agitation of the question of the summer dwelling
in the neighbourhood of Bushire. The Resident offered in the winter of i860 to
place all the premises at the disposal of the Persian Government.
296. In the month of October 1S61 after a discussion unfavourable to Persia
respecting Bahrein had been made by Her Majesty’s Government, the Persian
Government ordered the demolition of the Civil Surgeon's summer abode. Dr.
Wood’s abode was razed to the ground on the night of the 25tn January 1861,
and a portion of the Residency premises also threatened : vindictiveness towards
strangers and guests in a foreign land had never before been so marked.
397. In April 1869 Colonel Pelly addressed a despatch to Mr. Alison enclos
S.H. 1870, No*. 34*35. ing medical reports on the unhealthiness of
S. P. 1870, No*. 113-116. the town of Bushire owing to the absence
of sanitary arrangements and the practice of intra-mural interment and request
ing his good offices in ascertaining whether the Persian Government would
concede or permit the Indian Government to purchase a sufficient area outside
the town where a Residency and buildings required by the staff and dependents
might be constructed.
398. But Mr. R. Thomson, Her Majesty’s Charge, d’Affaires reported that
the Shah was unwilling to grant his consent to the measure. His Majesty stated
that the position of the Residency within the town was a very good one, close to
the sea and that no wish having been expressed, during the number of years
that the Residency had been inside the town, for making any change, no necessity
was shown for the proposed measure (Mr. Thomson to Colonel Pelly, dated
37th September 1869).
In these circumstances the Government of India thought that there was no
necessity for taking any further steps in the matter for the time being (Govern
ment of India to the Secretary of State, No. 12, dated 15th February 1870).
(xxxviii-A) Consular Buildings at Bandar Abbas..
398 A. In his Despatch No. 34-Secret, dated 22nd August 1902, invited
Seem E. J.ij 1903, Not. ,<6-7*. the attention of the Government of India
to an article in the Times of India of
18th June 1902 on the subject of want of accommodation for the Vice-Consul
at Bandar Abbas.
298 B. The only suitable house available for the Vice-Consul at Bandar
Abbas, when the appointment was first
Ibid, No. 147.
made, was one at Naband some two miles
from the town. This was taken on a monthly rental. But the landlord was
Volume I. 74 of 1865, page 86, Volume II, 86 of 1867, page 95)