Page 152 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

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Dr. Thomson’s recommendations, so far as the
coast of Persia was concerned,0 wore limited
to perfecting the existing sanitary stations at
Mohararaernh and Bu.shire, and possibly im­
proving the station .at Buudor Abbas.
The Government of India, in a telegram dated Viceroy's
the Oth February, 1907, expressed their agree- °o vjoi
mont with Dr. Thomson’s recommendations, and
their willingness “ to bear, for the present, the
cost of necessary preliminary measures, including
supply of disalVceting apparatus at Gulf ports,
reserving right of subsequent recovery from the
Persian Government in ease; of Persian ports, and
subject, in the ease of Ivoweit, to acquiescence of
Sheikh in proposed arrangement.” In April 1907 Sir 0. Spriug-Rice
the British Minister at Tehran telegraphed that n aud7l7,
an attack might shortly be anticipated upon our l'J07.
control of the quarantine in Southern Persia,
and that be trusted that steps would be taken to
scouro the maintenance of existing arrange­
ments. lie subsequently explained that his
apprehensions were based upon (1) the impend­
ing retirement of the President of the Tehran
Sanitary Council, who was friendly to British
interests, and tho possibility of his being replaced
by some one hostilo; and (2) the frank hostility
shown towards our quarantine officers both by tho
Russian Consul at Bunder Abbas and by the
Belgian Customs officials. Sir C. Spring-Rice
recommended, in addition to the improvements
of the sanitary service on the lines indicated
in his despatch of the 1st January, that a com­
munication should be made to the Russian
Government to the effect that, in view (1) of
the predominance of British trade and shipping;
(2) of the impossibility of securing an efficient
Persian service ; and (3) of the necessity for
good administration, His-Majesty’s Government
cxnccted that the Russian Government would
offer no objection to the continuance of the
present system.
His Majesty’s Government decided to postpone
making any representations to the Russian
Government until the estimates of the cost
of tho proposed improvements had been received
from tho Government of India.
The outbreak of plague at Bahrein in April
1907 brought into notice the deficiency in the
disinfecting equipment of the southern ports,
• Or. Thomson also proposed tho establishment of s station
at Koweit, on the Arabian lido of the Gulf.