Page 335 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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blackmail. Wc 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 tho inconvenience and loss inflicted by delay at Kao would
fall moro heavily on British trado. It has also been represented that delay at Kao might
involve the loss of one of the fortnightly tides neoded by large steamers in crossing the bar, and
if in consequence it became necessary to tranship into lighters, the loading and unloading
would entail heavy expenditure.
The objections wc entertain to tho proposals of tho Conference are no less serious in view
of the political considerations involved. The pretentions of the Porte to soverciqnty over
Bahrein, its claim to Mohammerah as evidenced by the levy of dues on its imports and exports,
and the jealousy evinced by the Turkish Government of the position of Great Britain on the
Persian Gulf, render it especially inexpedient that Turkish officials should be allowed, under the
pretext of enforcing quarantine regulations, to interfere in the affairs of Arab tribes under the
influence, of Her Majesty's Government. It will be observed moreover from the letter cited in
From Major Hoyos Sadler, dated 9th Ootobcr 1891, the margin that His Highness the Sultan of
in Enclosuro No. a. Maskat would object to sanitary posts at Gwadur
and Maskat, and if this portion of the scheme were left unexecuted, the object with which the
measures have been proposed would be defeated. Similar considerations apply to Kao. The
pos'tion of this place at the mouth of the Shat-cl-Arab would render these quarantine measures
ineffective without the assent and co-operation of Persia. It would be contrary to tho pro­
vision of the capitulations and of the treaty of Erzcrooiu for tho sanitary establishment at Fao
to control the movement of British and Persian ships bound for any place on the Persian side
of the stream. Such control would amount to exercise of sovereignty over the entire Sbat-
el-Arab to the detriment of Persian rights and of our traffic with Basrah. Not improbably, as
has b*en pointed out iu the course of the correspondence, the assertion of such a claim is the
real object of the Ottoman Government in its desire to establish a lazaret at Fao.
513-E. When tho plague broke out in India at the close of the year
Secret I, March 1S97, Nos. S7-126. 1896, the Sanitary Board at Constanti­
Secret 1, April 1S97, So. 8. nople decided in February 1897, to estab­
lish quarantine stations on the Arabian coast at Katif, Bahrein, Katar and
Koweit. The Political Resident in the Gulf anticipated these measures by
establishing quarantine at Bahrein. As to Katif, no objeotion could bo raised,
as it was, held to be in Turkish territory. Koweit was thought to be ‘‘doubtful,’*
while Turkish pretensions to Katar had been always denied by us. Iler
Majesty’s Government accordingly decided that Turkish intervention, even, on
the pretext of sanitary precautions, should not be permitted either on the
Katar coast or at Bahrein or at Koweit.
613-F. Nevertheless a Turkish quarantine post was established at Koweit,
the vexatious acts of interference of which are troatad in the Koweit Precis.

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