Page 149 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

21
Government intended to carry out this suggestion,
and recommended that tho “strongest protest.
Bhould l»o made against a change so injurious t*»
British interests,” and that His Majesty’s Govern­
ment should resolutely resist tho “ principle that
quarantine arrangements in tile Gulf can he
subverted, without our knowledge or consent, or
that a body of foreigners cau be put in expressly
to hamper British trade, the tonnage of which is
over DO per cent, of the total.” The Persian
Government, on being approached by Sir A.
Ilardingc, disclaimed all intention of removing
the British doctors; but the British Minister
was informed by the Persian Minister for Foreign
AlVaiis that certain complaints against the manner
in which they administered the quarantine “ had
suggested to the Shah the idea that it might bo
advisable to establish some closer supervision
over their work.” The question was again raised
in February It)01 by Colonel Kemball’s com­
plaints of interference by tho Customs Depart­
ment in the executive work of tho quarantine.
Viccroy’a telegram Tho Government of India recommended “ that a
of March 19,1904.
vigorous protest should at once he made against, the
disturbance of existing sanitary arrangements,”
butSir A.Ilardingc preferred to reserve any strong
remonstrance until wc were confronted with some
definite act of encroachment by the Persian
Government, itself. Further interference on the
part of the Customs authorities, coupled with the
activity of M. Bussiiirc, a doctor in the employ
of the Customs Department, and attached to the
French Vice-Consulate, and also, as subsequently
appeared, to the Russian Consulate, at Bushire,
again raised the question in an acute form.
Sir A. Hardingo to Representations were made by Sir A. llardinge
Lord Lansdowue, to tho Persian Government and to M. Naus,
Septembers, 1904.
tho Head of the Persian Customs, with the
result that in September 1901 tho Grand
Vizier promised to send telegraphic orders to
Bushire that tho Custom-house officers should
abstain from interfering in tho quarantine
administration of tho Gulf ports. The actual
text of the instructions sont to the Director-
General of Customs, Bushiro, was as follows:
“ You are to abstain as far as possible
from all interference with quarantine. Recom­
mend this especially to Bussidre. At the same
time this does not deprive you of tho right to
report to Tehran any steps by the quarantine
officials which may bo prejudicial to the Persian
[808] G